lisle did not follow the finger, and so missed the sight of Miss
Whirtle. Her rising relief had been penetrated by a doubt, not a new
one ... Would her friend Vivian have committed himself to the articles
for only a foolish sentimentalism which the poor themselves
repudiated?...

"But tell me frankly, Corinne, for I want to know," said she--"I know
working must be hard in any case--but do the girls at the Works consider
it a--a reasonably nice place?"

Kern knew nothing of the articles, of any situation: and at that
_Co-rinne_, her heart ran to water within her. She would have said
anything for that.

"Oh, ma'am, all say it's the nicest place to work in town. Yes,
ma'am ... And some of 'em has rich fathers and needn't work at all
anywhere, but they just go on and work at the Works, yes, ma'am,
because they druther ..."

That, by a little, drew the long-bow too hard. Cally saw that the small
three-years' buncher, through politeness or otherwise, was speaking
without reference to the truth. And hard upon that she had another
thought, striking down the impulse to cross-examine further. What an
undignified, what a cowardly way, to try to find things out! What a baby
she was, to be sure!... V. Vivian knew about the Works, though it was
certainly no affair of his. This frail girl, who did look rather sick
now that you stopped and looked at her, knew all about it. Only she, her
father's daughter, knew nothing, wrapped in her layers of pretty
pink wool ...

The lady came abruptly to her feet.

"I'm glad to hear it," said she ... "But I 'm afraid I must go on now.
Some one is waiting for me outside."

"Oh!--yes, ma'am!"

Kern had risen with her, though she had not learned that from the
Netiquette. Much it would have amazed her to know that the heavenly
visitor was regarding her with a flickering conviction of
inferiority....

"Good-bye, then. I hope you'll soon get your strength back again.... And
I'm very glad I saw you."

And then there was her hand held out; not lady to lady, of course, but
still her lady's hand. Poor Kern, with her exaltation and her pangs,
felt ready to go down on one knee to take it.

"Oh, ma'am!" she stammered. "I'm the glad one ..."

Miss Heth smiled--oh, so sweet, almost like in the Dream--and then it
was all over, and she was walking away, with the loveliest rustle ever
was. And Kern stood lost in the thronging aisle, staring at the point
where she had disappeared and giving little pin