Part 12 (1/2)
Mavis flushed and moved away; at any other time she would have hotly resented his conduct, but today she was desperately anxious to get employment, Mr Orgles took courage from her half-heartedness.
”Let me show you,” he cried.
”Show me what?” she asked, perplexed.
”How to live: how to enjoy life: how to be happy. The rest is easy: you will be employed here; you will rise to great things; and it will all be owing to me.”
Mavis looked at the excited, gesticulating old man in surprise; she wondered if he were right in his senses. Suddenly, his gyrations ceased; he glanced at the door and then moved his head in order to dart a horrid glance at the girl. He then approached her with arms outstretched.
Mavis intuitively knew what he meant. Her body quivered with rage; the fingers of her right hand clenched. Perhaps the man saw the anger in her eyes, because he stopped; but he was near enough for Mavis to feel his hot breath upon her cheek.
Thus they stood for a moment, he undecided, she on the defensive, when the door opened and a man came into the room. Mr Orgles, with an unpleasant look on his face, turned to see who the intruder might be.
”I've been looking for you, Orgles,” said the man.
”Indeed, sir! Very sorry, sir,” remarked Mr Orgles, who wore such an att.i.tude of servility to the newcomer that Mavis could hardly believe him to be the same man.
”I see you're busy,” continued the intruder. ”Engaging someone in Miss Jackson's place?”
”I was thinking about doing so, sir.”
”Why hesitate?”
Here the man--he was tall, dark, and fresh-coloured--looked kindly at Mavis; although not a gentleman, he had an unmistakable air of authority.
”There's no reason why I shouldn't, sir, only--”
”Only what?”
”She's had no experience, sir.”
The man turned to Mavis and said:
”If your references are satisfactory, you can consider yourself as engaged from next week.”
”Oh, thank you,” said Mavis, trying to voice her grat.i.tude.
”Call to-morrow with your references at eleven and ask for Mr Skeffington Dawes,” said the stranger.
A great gladness and a great reproach came to the girl's heart: a great gladness at having secured work; a great reproach at having believed that there was no one who cared if a human sparrow, such as she, should fall.
She bowed her thanks to Mr Skeffington Dawes and left the room, all unconscious of the malignant glance that Mr Orgles shot at her, after turning his head to bring the girl within his range of vision.
CHAPTER SIX
”DAWES”
After securing a place in ”Dawes',” which Mavis did at her interview with Mr Skeffington Dawes (one of the directors of the firm), her first sensation was one of disappointment, perhaps consequent upon reaction from the tension in her mind until she was sure of employment.