"Give it a good start in the world, you know. It 'ud be something to talk about 'avin' 'im for a godfather."
Presently, when Mavis stooped to kiss the wan face before going, Miss Nippett said:
"If I was to die, d'ye know what 'ud make me die 'appy?"
"Don't talk such nonsense: at your age, too."
"If I could just be made a partner in 'Poulter's,'" continued Miss Nippett. "Not for the money, you understand, reely not for that; but for the honour, as you might say."
"I quite understand."
"But there, one mustn't be too ambitious. That's the worst of me. And it's the way to be un'appy," she sighed.
Mavis walked with heavy heart to her lodging; for all her own griefs, Miss Nippett's touching faith in "Poulter's" moved her deeply.
When Mavis got back, she found Mrs Scatchard and her niece in high feather. They insisted upon Mavis joining them at what they called a knife and fork tea, to which Mr Napper and two friends of the family had been invited. Mr Scatchard was not present, but no mention was made of his absence, it being looked upon as an inevitable relaxation after the work and fret of the day. The room was littered with evening papers.
"It all went off beautiful, my dear," Mrs Scatchard remarked to Mavis.