inwardly and fluttered feebly at the heart as she thought of
entering any one of these mighty concerns and asking for
something to do--something that she could do--anything.



Chapter III

WEE QUESTION OF FORTUNE--FOUR-FIFTY A WEEK


Once across the river and into the wholesale district, she
glanced about her for some likely door at which to apply. As she
contemplated the wide windows and imposing signs, she became
conscious of being gazed upon and understood for what she was--a
wage-seeker. She had never done this thing before, and lacked
courage. To avoid a certain indefinable shame she felt at being
caught spying about for a position, she quickened her steps and
assumed an air of indifference supposedly common to one upon an
errand. In this way she passed many manufacturing and wholesale
houses without once glancing in. At last, after several blocks
of walking, she felt that this would not do, and began to look
about again, though without relaxing her pace. A little way on
she saw a great door which, for some reason, attracted her
attention. It was ornamented by a small brass sign, and seemed
to be the entrance to a vast hive of six or seven floors.
"Perhaps," she thought, "they may want some one," and crossed
over to enter. When she came within a score of feet of the
desired goal, she saw through the window a young man in a grey
checked suit. That he had anything to do with the concern, she