the car.

The man touched his hat and they were off. The woman did not speak at
first, being seemingly absorbed in anxious thought. Mavis became
conscious of a vague feeling of discomfort like to when--when--she
tried to remember when this uneasy feeling had before possessed her.
She glanced at her companion; she noticed that the woman's eyes were
hard and cold; it was difficult to reconcile their expression with the
sentiments she had professed. Then the woman turned to her.

"What is your name?"

"Mavis Weston Keeves."

"My name's Hamilton; it's really West-Hamilton, but I'm known as Mrs
Hamilton. How old are you?"

"Eighteen. I'm nineteen in three months."

"Tell me more of yourself."

Mavis briefly told her story; as she finished, the car drew up at a
post-office. Mrs Hamilton scanned Mavis's face closely before getting
out.

"I shan't be a moment; it's only to someone who's coming to dinner."

Mavis, left alone in the motor, wondered at the strangeness of the
adventure. She knew that Mrs Hamilton was scarcely a gentlewoman--even
in the broad interpretation nowadays given to the word. But it was not
this so much as the fact of her having such hard eyes which perplexed
the girl. She had little time to dwell on this matter, as, in a very
few moments, Mrs Hamilton was again beside Mavis, and they were
speeding up Oxford Street.

"The fact is I live alone," said Mrs Hamilton. "I am in need of a
companion, young and nice-looking, like yourself. I wonder if you'd
care for the job."

"I wonder if you'd care to have me."

"I entertain a good deal, mostly gentlemen; two gentlemen are coming to
dinner to-night."

"But you don't expect me--?"

"Why not?"

"But my clothes."

"Is that all? I've some things that will suit you down to the ground."

"You're very kind," said Mavis, as the motor, having turned into Regent
Street, whizzed past the Langham Hotel.

"You play and sing?" asked Mrs Hamilton.

"A little."

"That always helps. And as to terms, if we get along well together,
you'll be grateful to me till the day of your death."

Although the words were spoken without a suspicion of feeling, Mavis
replied:

"I'm sure I shall."

"Here we are!" said Mrs Hamilton.

Mavis was much surprised that no word had been said about references.

A man-servant opened the door. Mavis passed in with Mrs Hamilton, for
whom a telegram was waiting.

"Dinner at eight to-night, Jarvis; an hour earlier than usu