y, "I am inexperienced in the matter of wages, but I
feel sure that you either employ inferior workwomen or that you underpay
them. I don't know which, but I assure you that I could not think of
accepting your offer of seven dollars a week."

"Would you come for ten?" asked Madame Villard, eagerly.

"No," said Patty, shortly.

"For twelve, then? This is my ultimate offer, and you would do well to
consider it carefully. I have never paid so much to any workwoman, and I
offer it to you only because I chance to like your style of work."

"And that is your ultimate offer?" said Patty, looking at her squarely.

"Yes, and I am foolish to offer that; but, as we agreed, it is only for
one week, and so----"

"Spare your arguments, madame; I do not accept your proposal. Twelve
dollars a week is not enough. And now, I will bid you good-afternoon. Am
I entitled to pay for my day's work?"

With Patty's final refusal, the manner of Madame Villard had changed. No
longer placating and bland, she frowned angrily as she said:

"Pay, indeed! You should be charged for the materials you spoiled in your
morning's work."

"But in the afternoon," said Patty, "I trimmed three hats that will bring
you big profits."

"Nothing of the sort," snapped Madame. "The hats you trimmed are nothing
of any moment. Any of my girls could have done as well."

"Then why don't you pay them twelve dollars a week?" cried Patty, whose
harassed nerves were making her irritable. "I will call our financial
account even, but if any of your workwomen can trim hats that you like as
well as those that I trimmed, I trust you will give them the salary you
offered me. Good-afternoon."

Patty bowed politely, and then, with a more kindly bow and smile to Miss
O'Flynn, she went through the draperies, through the front salesroom, and
out at the front door. The milliner and her forewoman followed her with a
dignified slowness, but reached the window in time to see Patty get into
an elaborately-appointed motor-car which rolled rapidly away.

"She's one of those society women who spy out what wages we pay," said
Madame Villard, with conviction.

"She's not old enough for that," returned Miss O'Flynn, "but she's not
looking for real work, either. I can't make her out."

"Well, we have three stunning hats, anyway. Put them in the window
to-morrow. And you may as well put Paris labels inside; they have an air
of the real thing."

That evening Patty regaled her paren