She then opened the door wide enough for Mavis to edge her way in.
Mavis found herself in an apartment that was normally a
pretentiously furnished drawing-room. Just now, a lately vacated bed
was made up on the sofa; a recently used washing basin stood on a
chair; whilst Miss Meakin's unassumed garments strewed the floor.
"And what's happened to you all this long time?" asked Miss Meakin,
as she sat on the edge of a chair in the manner of one receiving a
formal call.
"To begin with, I'm married," said Mavis hurriedly, at which piece
of information her friend's face fell.
"Any family?" she asked anxiously.
"N-no--not yet."
"I could have married Mr Napper a month ago--in fact he begged me on
his knees to," bridled Miss Meakin.
"Why didn't you?"
"We're going to his aunt's at Littlehampton for the honeymoon, but
I'm certainly not going till it's the season there."
Mavis smiled.
"Would you?" asked Miss Meakin.
"Not if that sort of thing appealed to me."
When Miss Meakin had explained that she had got up late because she
had been to a ball the night before, Mavis told her the reason of
her visit, at which Miss Meakin declared that Mr Napper was the very
man to help her.
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