Part 84 (1/2)
Mavis explained that she would be glad of some work, at which her friend said:
”Then off you go at once to the academy. He's often spoken of you, and quite nicely, and he's asked for you in family prayers. If he's won the prize, it's as sure as 'knife' that he'll give you the job. And mind you come and tell me if he's won.”
Mavis thanked her wheezing, kind-hearted friend, and promised that she would return directly she had any news. Then, with hope in her heart, she hurried to the well-remembered academy, where she had sought work so many eventful months ago. As before, she looked into the impa.s.sive face of ”Turpsichor” while she waited for the door to be answered.
A slatternly servant of the charwoman species replied to her summons.
Upon Mavis saying that she wanted to see Mr Poulter immediately, she was shown into the ”Ladies' Waiting Room,” from which Mavis gathered that Mr Poulter had returned.
After a while, Mr Poulter came into the room with a shy, self-conscious smile upon his lovable face.
”You've heard?” he asked, as she shook hands.
Mavis looked at him in surprise.
”Of course you have, and have come to congratulate me,” he continued.
”I'm glad you've been successful,” said Mavis, now divining the reason of his elation.
”Yes” (here he sighed happily), ”I've won the great cotillion prize compet.i.tion. Just think of it!” Here he took a deep breath before saying, ”All the dancing-masters in the United Kingdom competed, even including Gellybrand” (here his voice and face perceptibly hardened), ”but I won.”
”I congratulate you,” said Mavis.
Mr Poulter's features weakened into a broad smile eloquent of an immense satisfaction.
”You can tell people you've been one of the first to congratulate me,”
he remarked.
”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 cla.s.ses.”
”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 a.s.sociation 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.”