Part 30 (1/2)

”May I ask your name?”

”Keeves. Mavis Keeves.”

”A good name,” muttered the old lady. ”Good-bye.”

”Good-bye.”

Mavis saw her move towards the door; when she reached it, she turned to smile again to Mavis before going out.

”What a fool I am!” thought Mavis. ”If I'd only told her I wanted work, she'd have helped me to something. What a fool I am!”

Mavis rose as if to follow the kindly old soul; but she was too late.

As she got up, she saw her step into a fine carriage, which, after the footman had closed the door and mounted the box, had driven away. Mavis sat helplessly. It seemed as if she were as a drowning person who had been offered the chance of clutching a straw, but had refused to take it. There was little likelihood of her getting a second chance. She must resign herself to the worst. She had forgotten; one hope was still left, one she had, hitherto, lost sight of: this to pray to her Heavenly Father, to remind Him that she, as a human sparrow, was in danger of falling; to implore succour. Although she had knelt morning and evening at her bedside, it had lately been more from force of habit than anything else; her heart had not inspired her lips. There had been some reason for this: every morning she had been devoured by eagerness to get work; at night, she had been too weary and dispirited to pray earnestly. Mavis covered her eyes with her hands; she prayed heartfully and long for help. Words welled from her being; their burden was:

”I am young; I love life; help me to live, if only for a little while, in this glorious, wonderful world of Thy making. I only ask for bread, for which I am eager to work. Help me! Help me! Help me!”

Mavis uncovered her eyes. The tea-shop, the music, the indefinable odour of women all seemed bizarre after her communion with the Most High. She made ready to go.

”Are you in trouble?” said a voice at her elbow.

”Yes,” she replied.

”I must help you,” said the voice.

Mavis saw a richly dressed, bejewelled, comfortable-looking woman at her side.

She was not in the least surprised; a friend had been sent in answer to her prayer.

”Is it over money?” asked the instrument.

Mavis nodded.

”I thought as much. I saw you outside the tea-shop and followed you in.

Is your time your own?”

”Absolutely.”

”No parents or anyone?”

”I haven't a friend or relation in the world.”

”Ah! I must really help you. Come with me. Let me pay for your tea.”

Mavis, before she went, found time to offer up brief, heartfelt thanks for having speedily received an answer to her prayer.

CHAPTER TWELVE