"
"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 told of this decision, sent Jill up in charge of a
maid, who asked that its collar and chain might be returned to
Melkbridge House.
Mavis took Jill in her arms, when it would seem by the dog's
demonstrations of delight as if it had long been a stranger to
affectionate regard.
"Be you agoing to keep un?" asked the maid.
"Why not?"
"I shouldn't. Hev a good look at un."
Mavis looked, to see that Jill's comparatively recent litter had
been responsible for the temporary abnormal development of the parts
of her body by which she had nourished her young.
"It's why Mrs Devitt wouldn't have un in the house. I don't blame
her. I call it disgusting," continued this chip of Puritanical
stock.
"I see nothing to object to. It's nature," retorted Mavis, who
inwardly smiled to see how the Puritanical-minded young woman, who
had looked askance at Jill's appearance, did not hesitate to grab
the girl's proffered shilling.
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