richer and more luxuriant than of yore; but it
was her eyes in which the chief alteration had occurred. These now held
an unfathomable depth of tenderness, together with a roguish fear that
the former alluring quality might be discovered. If her figure were not
as unduly stout as the skinny virgins of Melkbridge declared it to be,
there was no denying the rude health apparent in the girl's face and
carriage.

So far as her colleagues at the boot factory were concerned, Miss
Toombs hardly took any notice of her, whilst Miss Hunter gave her the
impression of being extremely insincere, all her words and actions
being the result of pose rather than of conviction.

The only people Mavis was at all friendly with were Mr and Mrs
Medlicott, whom she often visited on Sunday evenings, when they would
all sing Moody and Sankey's hymns to the accompaniment of the cabinet
piano.

When she had been some months at Melkbridge, a new interest had come
into her life. One day, Mr Devitt, who, with his family, had showed no
disposition to cultivate Mavis's acquaintance, sent for her and asked
her if she would like to have a dog.

"Nothing I should like better," she replied.

"There's only one objection."

"One can't look gift dogs in the mouth."

"It's a she, a lady dog: there's risk of an occasional family."

"I'll gladly take that."

"She's rather a dear, but she's lately had pups, and some people might
object to her appearance."

"I know I should love her."

"She's a cocker spaniel--her name's Jill. She belongs to my boy,
Harold. But as he's away--"

"Then we've already met. I saw her the day I came down to see you from
London. You're right--she is a dear."

"My boy, who is still away for his health--"

"I am sorry," Mavis interrupted.

"Thanks. He wrote to say that, as we--some of us--appeared to find her
a nuisance, we'd better try and find her a happy home."

"I'm sure she'd be happy with me."

"What about your landlady?"

"I'd forgotten her. I must ask."

"If she doesn't mind, Jill's licence is paid till the end of the year."

"I do hope Mrs Farthing won't mind," declared Mavis hopefully.

Rather to her surprise, Mrs Farthing made little objection to Jill's
coming to live with Mavis, her surrender being partly due to the fact
of the girl's winsome presence having softened the elder woman's heart,
but largely because it had got about Melkbridge that Mavis came of a
local county family.

Mr Devitt, being