The air of the shop upstairs was agreeably refreshing after the vitiated atmosphere of the dining-room; it saved her from faintness. Happily, she was sent down to tea at a quarter to four, to find that this, by a lucky accident, was stronger and warmer than the tepid stuff with which she had been served at breakfast. As the hours wore on, Mavis noticed that most of the girls seemed to put some heart into their work; she supposed that this elation was caused by the rapidly approaching hour of liberty. When this at last arrived, there was a rush to the bedrooms. Mavis, who was now suffering tortures from a racking headache, went listlessly upstairs; she wondered if she would be allowed to go straight to bed. When she got into the room, she found everything in confusion. Miss Potter, Miss Allen, and Miss Impett were frantically exchanging their working clothes for evening attire. Mavis was surprised to see the three girls painting their cheeks and eyebrows in complete indifference to her presence. They took small notice of her; they were too busy discussing the expensive eating-houses at which they were to dine and sup. Miss Potter, in struggling into her evening bodice, tore it behind. Mavis, seeing that Miss Allen was all behind with her dressing, offered to sew it. "Thank you," remarked Miss Potter, in the manner of one bestowing a favour. Mavis mended the rent quickly and skilfully. Perhaps her ready needle softened the haughty Miss Potter's heart towards her, for the beauty said: "Where are you off to to-night?" "Nowhere," answered Mavis. "Nowhere!" echoed Miss Potter disdainfully, while the other occupants of the room ejaculated "My!" "Haven't you a 'boy'?" asked Miss Potter. "A what?" "A young man then," said Miss Potter, as she made a deft line beneath her left eye with an eye pencil. "I don't know any young men," remarked Mavis. "Hadn't you better be quick and pick up one?" asked Miss Impett. "I don't care to make chance acquaintances," answered Mavis. To her surprise, her remark aroused the other girls' ire; they looked at Mavis and then at one another in astonishment. "I defy anyone to prove that I'm not a lady," cried Miss Impett, as she bounced out of the room. "I'm as good as you any day," declared Miss Potter, as she went to the door. "Yes, that we are," cried Miss Allen defiantly, as she joined her friend. Mavis sat wearily on her bed. Her head ached; her body seemed incapable of further effort; worst of all, her soul was steeped in despair. "What have I done, oh, what have I done to deserve this misery?" she cried out.