"Really!" laughed Mavis, who was beginning to recover her spirits.
"Although I believe my cowardice is justified," declared Miss Toombs. "I haven't a friend or relation in the world. If I were to get ill, or lose my job to-morrow, I've no one to turn to. I've a bad circulation and get indigestion whenever I eat meat. I've only one pleasure in life, and I do all I know to keep my job so that I can indulge in it."
"What's that?"
"You'll laugh when I tell you."
"Nothing that gives a human being innocent pleasure can be ridiculous," remarked Mavis.
"My happiness comes in winter," declared Miss Toombs. "I love nothing better than to go home and have tea and hot buttered toast before the blazing fire in my bed-sitting room. Then, about seven, I make up the fire and go to bed with my book and hot-water bottles. It's stuffy, but it's my idea of heaven."
Mavis did not offer any comment.
"Now laugh at me," said Miss Toombs.
Instead of doing any such thing, Mavis bent over to kiss Miss Toombs's cheek.
"No one's ever wanted to kiss me before," complained Miss Toombs.