This
matter being settled, she asked for notepaper and envelope, on which
she wrote to Mrs Farthing, asking her to be so good as to send Jill
at once, and to be sure to let her know by what train she would
arrive at Paddington. Mavis was careful to head the notepaper with
the address of the academy; she did not wish anyone at Melkbridge to
know her actual address. After taking leave of Mr Poulter and
posting her letter, she repaired to Miss Nippett's as arranged. The
accompanist was now out of bed, in a chair before the fire. Directly
she caught sight of Mavis, she said:
"'As he won?"
"Yes, he's won the great cotillion prize competition."
A look of intense joy illumined Miss Nippett's face.
"Isn't he proud?" she asked.
"Very!"
"An' me not there to see him in his triumph." A cloud overspread
Miss Nippett's features.
"What's the matter?" asked Mavis.
"Did he--did he send and tell you to tell me as 'ow he'd won."
The wistful old eyes were so pleading, that Mavis fibbed.
"Of course he sent me."
"I thought he wouldn't forget his old friend," she remarked with a
sigh of relief. "'E'd surely know I was anxious to know.
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