Mavis made up her mind.
"If you don't give me a room to myself, I shall go," declared Mavis.
"And 'ave yer baby in the street?"
"That's my affair."
Mavis rose as if to make good her words.
Seeing that she was in earnest, Mrs Gowler said:
"Don't be a mug. I'll see what I can do."
Mavis was much relieved when Mrs Gowler waddled up the stairs, taking with her an evil-smelling oil lamp. The woman's presence was beginning to inspire her with a nameless dread, which was alien to the repulsion inspired by her appearance and coarse speech. Now and again, Mavis caught a glimpse of terrifying depths of resolution in the woman's nature; then she seemed as if she would stick at nothing in order to gain her ends.
"This way, please, Mrs 'Aughty," Mrs Gowler presently called from the landing above Mavis's head.
Mavis walked up the two flights of stairs, followed by Jill, where she found Mrs Gowler in the passage leading to the two top-back rooms of the house. One of these was small, being little larger than a box-room, but to Mavis's eyes it presented the supreme advantage of being untenanted by any other patient.