she found herself comparing the appearance of the two
girls. Before she had offered her hand to Mavis, she had decided that,
beside her, Victoria appeared at a disadvantage.

Although Mavis's hair and colouring might only appeal to a certain
order of taste, the girl's distinction, to which one of the Miss Mees
had alluded earlier in the day, was glaringly patent to Mrs Devitt's
sharp eyes; beside this indefinable personal quality, Mrs Devitt
observed with a shudder, Victoria seemed middle-class. Mavis's fate, as
far as the Devitts were concerned, was decided in the twinkling of an
eye. For all this decision, so suddenly arrived at, Mrs Devitt greeted
Mavis kindly; indeed, the friendliness that she displayed caused the
girl's hopes to rise.

"Luncheon will be ready directly. We are only waiting for my husband,"
said Mrs Devitt.

"You must be hungry after your journey," added Victoria.

"I've always a healthy appetite, whatever I do," remarked Mavis, who
was fondly regarding the black spaniel.

Then Montague Devitt, Lowther, and Miss Spraggs entered the
drawing-room, to all of whom Mavis was introduced.

The men were quite cordial, too cordial to a girl who, after all, was
seeking a dependant's place, thought Mrs Devitt.

Already she envied Mavis for her family, the while she despised her for
her poverty.

The attentions that her husband and stepson were already paying her
were a hint of what Mrs Devitt might expect where the eligible men of
her acquaintance were concerned. She felt the necessity of striking a
jarring note in the harmony of the proceedings. Jill, the spaniel, who,
at that moment, sprang upon Mavis's lap, supplied the means.

"What is Jill doing here?"

"I really don't mind," exclaimed Mavis.

"She shouldn't be in the house. There's no reason for her being here at
all, now Harold is ill."

"If you wish her to go," said Mavis ruefully.

Jill was ordered from the room, but refused to quit her new friend's
side. Lowther approached the dog; to emphasise his wishes, he kicked
her in the side.

Mavis looked up quickly.

"Come along, you brute!" cried Lowther, who seized the spaniel by the
ear, and, despite its yell of agony, was carrying it by this means from
the room.

Mavis felt the blood rush to her head.

"Stop!" she cried.

Lowther turned to look at her.

"Stop--, please don't," she pleaded, as she went quickly to Jill and
caught her in her arms.

Lowther looked down, surprised,