"Aren't you nervous?" he asked.
"I am rather," she replied, as she took off her coat.
"Oh, my dear, may an old man say how beautiful you look?"
"Why not?" asked Mavis, whose eyes were shining at the unexpectedness of the compliment.
Mr Poulter looked at her intently for a few moments before saying:
"Haven't you a father or mother?"
Mavis shook her head.
"Neither kith nor kin?"
"I'm all alone in the world," she replied sadly.
A sorrowful expression came over the old man's face as he said with much fervour: