"Please to come inside," said Mrs. Farthing.
Mavis followed the woman, who was little and sharp-eyed, into a clean, orderly living room, where she was asked to take a seat. She was surprised to see her prospective landlady also sit, for all the world as if she were entertaining a guest.
"Did you say you were taking up church work?" asked Mrs Farthing.
"No, I did not."
"I thought you did," said Mrs Farthing, as her face fell.
"You see, my father was a sea captain, so I have to be so careful to whom I let my rooms."
"If I thought they weren't respectable, I shouldn't have come here," retorted Mavis.
Mrs Farthing winced, but recovered herself.
"Since I have been resident at Pennington Cottage, one colonel, three doctors, two lawyers, seven reverends, and one banker have visited here."
"I'm glad to see others appreciate you," remarked Mavis.