The front door was in sight and Mavis's heart was beating
high with hope, when Mrs Hamilton, who looked tired and heated,
stood in the passage.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Out for the evening," replied Williams.
"What time shall I expect you back?" she asked of Mavis.
"I'm not coming back," replied Mavis. "I wish I'd never come."
"Then--?"
"Yes," interrupted Williams, anticipating Mrs Hamilton's question.
"You believe and trust a notorious seducer like this man?" asked Mrs
Hamilton of Mavis.
"Whatever I am, I ain't that," cried Williams.
"To a man who has ruined more girls than anyone else in London?"
continued Mrs Hamilton. "I solemnly warn you that if you go with
that man it means your ruin--ruin body and soul."
Mrs Hamilton spoke in such a low, earnest voice, that Mavis, who now
recollected Mr Williams's previous behaviour to her, was inclined to
waver.
Mrs Hamilton saw her advantage and said:
"Since you disbelieve in me, the least you can do is to go upstairs
and take off my clothes."
"She'll do nothing of the kind," cried out the man.
"He doesn't want to lose his prey," Mrs Hamilton remarked to Mavis,
who was inclined to falter a little more.
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