"
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
TRAVAIL
If Mavis had believed that the recovery of her property would give
her peace of mind, she soon discovered how grievously she was
mistaken.
Directly she left the police station with Mr Napper, all her old
fears and forebodings for the future resumed sway over her thoughts.
As before, she sought to allay them by undiminished faith in her
lover. She accepted Mr Napper's hospitality in the form of tea and
toast at a branch of the Aerated Bread Company, where she asked him
how much she was in his debt for his services. To her surprise, he
replied, "Nothing at all," and added that he was only too glad to
assist her, not only for Miss Meakin's sake, but because he felt
that Mavis dimly appreciated his intellectuality. Upon Mavis
untruthfully replying that she did, Mr Napper gave a further effort
to impress, not only her, but others seated about them; he talked
his jargon of scientific and philosophical phrases at the top of his
voice. She was relieved when she was rid of his company. She then
took train to Shepherd's Bush, where she called on Miss Meakin as
promised. Much to her surprise, Miss Meakin, who was now robed in a
flimsy and not too clean teagown, had not the slightest interest in
knowing if Mavis had recovered her property; indeed, she had
forgotten that Mavis had lost anything.
Pages:
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479