"Don't send 'em to 'Poulter's,'" said Miss Nippett. "There's enough already who're be'ind with their accounts."
A few minutes later, Mr Poulter entered the room, wearing evening dress, dancing pumps, and a tawdry-looking insignia in his coat.
"That's the 'B.A.T.D.,' Grand Council Badge," Miss Nippett informed Mavis.
"Wonderful!" exclaimed Mavis, who felt that her hypocrisy was justified by the pleasure it gave kindly Mr Poulter.
"Say we enjoy a whiff of fresh air before commencing our labours," suggested Mr Poulter.
Upon Mavis and Miss Nippett rising as if to fall in with his suggestion, Mr Poulter went before them, up the stairs, past the "Ladies' Cloak Room," along the passage to the front door.
As Miss Nippett and Mavis followed the dancing-master, the former said, referring to Mr Poulter:
"'E once took the 'Olborn Town 'all for an 'All Night,' didn't you, Mr Poulter?"
"The night the 'Clacton Schottische' was danced for the first time," replied Poulter.
"And what do you think the refreshments was contracted at a 'ead?" asked Miss Nippett.