d, took home every Saturday two pounds ten shillings; the
very youngest assistant made twelve shillings a week.

"I do hope," said Madame, at a special private conference, "it doesn't
mean she's taking up religion." The forewoman shook her head. "I've
known cases in my time where it's come on suddenly, and it's thrown a
girl clean off her balance. If it isn't religion it must be love.
Love has just about the same effect with some of us. Have you ever
been gone on any one, Miss Rabbit?"

"Only to a very moderate extent," replied the forewoman precisely.
"And it's such a long while ago, Madame, that I've nearly forgot all
about it."

"I don't like to see one of my girls turn like this all at once," said
Madame with anxiety. "Moreover, she's the handy one in the business.
There's nothing she doesn't know about the work, and little she can't
do. If anything happened to you, I've always had the idea of putting
her in your position."

Miss Rabbit's features twitched; she corrected the slip at once by
assuming a look of cordial agreement. "You always know the right thing
to do, Madame," she murmured reverently.

"How'd it be to call her in, and both of us have a talk to her, and
find out whether she's got anything on her mind?"

"That's a splendid notion," admitted Miss Rabbit with enthusiasm. "Or
shall I have a quiet chat with her first, and pave the way, so to
speak?"

"I wish you would," said Madame. "You're not particularly clever, but
I believe you've got a kind heart."

The forewoman that evening, whilst the girls were washing and sharing
the brush and comb, and complaining that hair came out by the handful,
entered the office; announcing the occasion as her birthday, she asked
Miss Higham to leave books, and assist in celebrating the event by
taking with her a cup of chocolate. Gertie wanted to reach home early
in order to see whether an expected letter had arrived, but the
invitation suggested a rare compliment, and, with a stipulation
arranging that the hospitality should not exceed the space of twenty
minutes, she accepted. In an A.B.C. shop at the corner, later, Gertie
raised her large cup and wished Miss Rabbit many happy returns. Her
eyes wandered rather eagerly about the crowded tables; the inspection
over, she sighed.

"Wonder if I can trust you, dear," said Miss Rabbit, resting elbows.
"I've been so often taken in over friendships with people that I
suppose I'm more cautious than most.