She was only concerned to
know what Mavis thought of Mr Napper, and what this person had said
about herself: on this last matter, Mavis was repeatedly cross-
questioned. Mavis then spoke of a matter she had thought of on the
way down: that of engaging a room at Mrs Scatchard's if she had one
to let. Miss Meakin, however, protested that she had nothing to do
with the business arrangements of the house, and declared that her
aunt had better be consulted.
Upon Mavis interviewing Mrs Scatchard on the matter, the latter
declared that her niece had suggested the subject to her directly
after Mavis had left in the morning, a statement which Miss Meakin
did not appear to overhear. Mrs Scatchard showed Mavis a clean,
homely little room. The walls were decorated with several
photographs of celebrations, which, so far as she could see, were
concerned with the doings of royalty. When it came to the discussion
of terms, Mrs Scatchard pointed out to Mavis the advantage of being
in a house rented by a man like Mr Scatchard, who was "so mixed up
with royalty," as she phrased it; but, partly in consideration of
the timely service which Mavis had once rendered Miss Meakin, and
largely on the score that Mavis boasted of blood (she had done
nothing of the kind), Mrs Scatchard offered her the room, together
with use of the bathroom, for four-and-sixpence a week.
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