I
“What’s the difference, lady?”
The remark she had heard the salesgirl make to the critical shopper was often in Grace’s mind. What did anything really matter! But the aisles at Shipley’s were crowded with importunate holiday shoppers, and she was able to forget herself in her work. She had been complimented by the superintendent of the store; she was already one of the most successful saleswomen in her department. She had earned as high as fifty dollars a week, not a contemptible sum, even if to earn it she had become Number Eighteen at Shipley’s!
Four days passed and still no word from Trenton. On two nights Grace cried herself to sleep in a confusion of emotions—loneliness, fear that some evil had befallen him, mortification that she had listened to his protestations of love, and hope that he would yet explain himself. Her repeated efforts to shut him out of her mind failed miserably. She had not known until his communications ceased how much she counted on him, or how completely he had captivated her imagination.
As she waited for a customer to decide upon a wrap her gaze fell upon a young woman whom she recognized, after a bewildered moment of uncertainty, as Mrs. Bob Cummings.
Briskly summing up the arguments in favor of the garment her customer was considering, Grace was disagreeably conscious that Evelyn appeared to be waiting for an opportunity to speak to her. Grace answered perfunctorily the last question of her customer and made out the charge slip. As she concluded the transaction and bade her customer good morning Evelyn crossed the room.
“Please pardon me, Miss Durland!” she began, half extending and then withdrawing her hand.
“Is there something I can show you?” asked Grace in her most business-like tone.
“Not a thing, Miss Durland,” said Evelyn and smiled ingratiatingly. “You are terribly busy I know, but there’s something I want to say to you; it will take only a minute. I’m sorry I was so rude the other night; may I—apologize?”
“That’s quite unnecessary,” said Grace coldly, and was instantly vexed that she had thought of no better response. Evelyn, embarrassed for a moment, smiled again. She was much prettier than Grace had thought her at McGovern’s.
“It was all so ridiculous!” said Evelyn, now perfectly composed. “Bob’s such a baby! I didn’t mind at all your going out to supper with him. What I did mind was his acting like an idiot when I walked in on you. Jimmie was just as idiotic—the idea of explaining anything! And then Bob must try to explain! That bored me just as it bored you. Of course I wasn’t going to let him explain! But I’m sorry I lost my temper and spoke to you as I did. Won’t you forgive me?”
“If there’s any forgiving to be done let’s both do it!” said Grace; and they smiled at each other.
“Men are such fools!” exclaimed Evelyn, as though greatly relishing the statement. “Nothing ever pleased me more than the way you made Bob take you home. And then he came back to McGovern’s and complained—actually complained to me!—that you had given him the slip! He did that—really he did! Can you imagine it?”
Her mirth over the affair had communicated itself to Grace. It hadn’t occurred to her that Bob might have returned to McGovern’s when she left him.
“Bob is so obvious!” Evelyn continued. “He’s just got to have sympathy. Really, he wanted me to sympathize with him because you shook him in the road! Jimmy and I teased him till he cried for mercy. Bob’s a dear boy but he needs just the jar you gave him. You were perfect! And you won’t think the worse of me will you, for losing my temper?”
“Certainly not!” said Grace, “I’ve known Bob so long——”
“Yes; the moment Jimmy spoke your name I knew all about you, and understood everything. He wanted sympathy and being a sentimental person he sought you out of the score of old friendship. Just like him! Selfish is no name for him! But to think he was afraid of me! He gave himself away terribly! He’s so meek now it’s positively pathetic!”
To be laughing over Bob’s frailties with Bob’s wife was something that hadn’t figured in Grace’s calculations. The superintendent, on his way through the department, frowned to see Number Eighteen neglecting her duties to chat with a caller, but recognizing Mrs. Cummings he asked deferentially whether she was finding what she wanted.
“Miss Durland is taking excellent care of me,” Evelyn replied. “I’m violating all the rules, I suppose,” she said when the man had passed on. “If they scold you let me know and I’ll speak to Mr. Shipley about it. Just one thing more! Bob has told me about your father and the way Mr. Cummings, senior, treated him. It wasn’t fair; Bob says that. I’d like you to know I’m sorry——”
“It was all in the way of business,” said Grace. “I have no feeling about it; I’m only sorry for my father and mother. It was a blow they hadn’t expected.”
“It wasn’t nice,” said Evelyn decisively. “I wish we could really become acquainted. I’m going to ask you up for dinner soon—please don’t say no! There are some young people I’d like you to meet. Good-bye and thank you ever so much.”