"Don't you worry about me. I shall be right again soon; reely I shall."
Mavis tried to discover if Miss Nippett were properly looked after, but without result, Miss Nippett's mind being wholly possessed by "Poulter's" and its chief.
"He promised to send me a postcard to say how he got on, but I suppose he was too busy to remember," sighed Miss Nippett.
"Surely not!"
"He's like all these great men: all their 'earts in their fame, with no thought for their humble assistants," she complained, to add after a few moments' pause, "A pity you're married."
"Why?"
"'Cause, since I've been laid up, he's been in want of a reliable accompanist."
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 impassive face of "Turpsichor" while she waited for the door to be answered.