Part 24 (1/2)
”It's a great honour being connected with 'Poulter's,'” the little woman hazarded.
”No doubt.”
”And what with the undercutting and all, on the part of those who ought to know better, it makes it 'ard to make both ends meet.”
”I'm sure it does.”
”But there! We'll leave it to Mr Poulter.”
”That's the best thing to do.”
”I'll see if Mr Poulter's finished 'is tea.”
Mavis followed the woman across the ballroom, and back to the cloak-room, where she was left alone for quite five minutes. Then the little woman put her head into the room to say:
”Mr Poulter won't be many minutes now. 'E's come to the cake,” at which Mavis smiled as she said:
”I can wait any time.”
Mavis already quite liked the odd little woman. She waited some minutes longer, till at last her friend excitedly re-entered to say, in the manner of one conveying information of much moment:
”Mr Poulter is reelly coming on purpose to see you.”
Mavis nerved herself for the ordeal of meeting the dancing-master.
CHAPTER TEN
”POULTER'S”
When, a few moments later, Mr Poulter came into the room, his appearance surprised Mavis. She expected and braced herself to interview a person with greasy, flowing locks and theatrical manners; instead, she saw a well-preserved old man with one of the finest faces she had ever seen. He had a ruddy complexion, soft, kindly blue eyes, and a n.o.ble head covered with snow-white hair. His presence seemed to infect the coa.r.s.ely scented air of the room with an atmosphere of refinement and unaffected kindliness. He was shabbily dressed. Directly Mavis saw him, she longed to throw her arms about his neck, to kiss him on the forehead.
He bowed to Mavis before saying:
”Have you 'ad your tea?”
”Yes, thank you,” she replied.
”Miss Nippett has told me of your errand.”
”She has also heard me play.”
”It is now only a question of terms,” said Mr Poulter gently.
”Quite so.”
”The last wish of 'Poulter's' is to appear ungenerous, but, with remorseless compet.i.tion in the Bush,” here Mr Poulter's kindly face hardened, ”everyone suffers.”
”The Bush?” queried Mavis.
”Shepherd's Bush,” explained Poulter. ”Many of 'Poulter's' clients, who are behindhand with their cheques for family tuition, have made payment with the commodities which they happen to retail,” remarked Poulter.