"I won't forget. I was sorry to see that Miss Nippett is so unwell."
"It's most unfortunate; it so interferes with the evening classes."
"But she may get well soon."
"I fear not."
"Really?" asked Mavis, genuinely concerned for her friend's health.
"It's a great pity. Accompanists like her are hard to find. Besides,
she was well acquainted with all the many ramifications of the
academy."
Mavis recalled that, in the old days of her association with
"Poulter's," she had noticed that otherwise kindly Mr Poulter took
Miss Nippett's body and soul loyalty to him quite as a matter of
course. Time, apparently, had not caused him to think otherwise of
the faithful accompanist than as a once capable but now failing
machine.
Mr Poulter asked Mavis what had happened to her since he had last
seen her. She told him the fiction of her marriage; it hurt her to
see how glibly the lie now fell from her lips.
After Mr Poulter had congratulated her and her absent husband, he
said:
"I fear you would not care to undertake any accompanying."
"But I should."
"As you did before?"
"Certainly!"
It was then arranged that Mavis should commence work at the academy
on that day, for much the same terms she was paid before.
Pages:
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485