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 competition. 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.