such maternal sentiments, Mavis
looked in vain for the motherly expression upon her face, which she
felt should inevitably accompany such words. Mrs Hamilton's face was
hard, expressionless, cold. Presently she said:

"If you would care to go to your room, it's on the next floor, and the
second door you come to on the right. If it isn't good enough, let me
know."

"It's sure to be," remarked Mavis.

"Parkins, my maid, will come to you in ten minutes. Rest till then, as
to-night I want you to look your best."

Mavis thanked and left Mrs Hamilton. She then found her way to her
chamber. She was as surprised and delighted with this as she had been
with the other two rooms, perhaps more so, because she reflected, with
an immense satisfaction, that it might be her very own. The room was
furnished throughout with satinwood; blue china bowls decorated the
tops of cabinets; a painted satinwood spinet stood in a corner; the
hearth was open and tiled throughout with blue Dutch tiles; the fire
burned in a brass brazier which was suspended from the chimney.

Thought Mavis, as she looked rapturously about her:

"Just the room I should love to have had for always, if--if things had
been different."

A door on the right of the fireplace attracted her. She turned the
handle of this, to find it opened on to a luxuriously fitted bathroom,
in a corner of which a fire was burning. Mavis returned to the bedroom,
still wondering at the sudden change in her fortunes; even now, with
all these tangible evidences of the alteration in her condition, she
could scarcely believe it to be true: it all seemed like something out
of a book or on the stage, two forms of distraction which, according to
Miss Allen, did anything but represent life as it really was. She was
still mentally agape at her novel surroundings when Parkins, Mrs
Hamilton's maid, entered the room to dress Mavis.

Parkins's appearance surprised her; she was wholly unlike her
conception of what a lady's-maid should be. Instead of being
unassumingly dressed, quiet, self-effacing, Parkins was a bold, buxom
wench, with large blue eyes and a profusion of fair hair. She wore
white lace underskirts, openwork silk stockings, and showy shoes. Her
manner was that of scarcely veiled familiarity. She carried upon her
arm a gorgeous evening gown.

Mavis made an elaborate toilette. She bathed, presently to clothe
herself in the many delicate garments which Mrs Hamilton had provided.
Her