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The young Jew with the nose so impossible that it elevated his countenance from commonplace ugliness to weird distinction had taken a friendly fancy to her. He was Julius Bam, nephew of the proprietor. In her third week he offered her the forewoman's place. "You've got a few brains in your head," said he. "Miss Tuohy's a boob. Take the job and you'll push up. We'll start you at five per."
Neither Miss Sugg nor Mr. Fowle spoke to her, but Winifred thought she saw a malicious smile on the forewoman's face. The hours passed wearily until six o'clock. She was about to quit the building with her companions many of whom meant bombarding her with questions at the first opportunity when she was again requested to report at the office. A clerk handed her one of the firm's pay envelopes.
In spite of the forewoman's assertion that it was only a fire drill the pall of smoke in the corner of the room spread apace, and there was the smell of fire, as well as the crackle of flames. "This way, girls," called Mr. Pertell to his four actresses. "Here's a fire escape over here." "Excuse me," said the forewoman, firmly. "But please have your company follow my girls.
Rushing up to the forewoman's desk, she said excitedly: "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again. You surely wouldn't take her back, would you, Miss Merton?" "Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.
The house would soon be gayer; Mademoiselle Melanie would leave the business more in her forewoman's hands; the pleasant change so long desired was coming about; but she could not rest until she discovered the object of Mademoiselle Melanie's attachment. One thing was certain: there was romance and mystery about the whole affair, and this lent zest to the Frenchwoman's enjoyment.
In the whole work-room there was only one skin beneath which the blood still visibly played; and that now burned with vexation as Miss Bart, under the lash of the forewoman's comment, began to strip the hat-frame of its over-lapping spangles. To Gerty Farish's hopeful spirit a solution appeared to have been reached when she remembered how beautifully Lily could trim hats.
It went about like a mother who has found her child asleep at play, and who steals away atiptoe, finger on lip, lips smiling tenderly. The delicate antennae of Emma McChesney's mind sensed the change. Perhaps she read something in the glowing eyes of her sister-in-love, Hortense. Perhaps she caught a new tone in Miss Kelly's voice or the forewoman's.
When she had received her meagre payment, and had another bundle rather contemptuously pushed towards her by the hard-visaged forewoman, she experienced quite a little thrill of pride in refusing it. 'No, thank you, Mrs. Galbraith; I dinna need ony mair the day, she said, and her face flushed under the forewoman's strong, steady stare. 'Oh, what's up?
Some woman who could not see the cause of the uproar, out of her overwrought apprehension raised the cry of fire and precipitated the panic rush for the doors. All of them were screaming the stupid, soul-sickening high note of terror, drowning the forewoman's voice. Saxon had been merely startled at first, but the screaming panic broke her grip on herself and swept her away.
"Yes, certainly." "Well then, I say a thief is a thief, and I don't see where any misjudging comes in," and Speckles looked defiantly from one to another. A tall blonde whose thoughtful blue eyes had been studying the forewoman's face, laid her hand on the excited girl's arm, remarking gently: "Let's not judge too hastily, Speckles dear. I think Miss Merton has something to tell us.
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