"But perhaps you mightn't do it rightly, and we should be blamed," objected Miss Sophy.
Mildred smiled.
"I'm not afraid of the risk, if you are willing."
"Miss Gilbert was in a great hurry for the dress, and she might consent," admitted Miss Coxen. "She said her regular dressmaker in London was ill; and, dear me! It seemed quite a Providence for us. And now it's all upset. I can't think how ever I could do such a silly thing as to tumble over that footstool."
Miss Sophy could not think it either, and she said so in plain terms, whereupon Miss Coxen began immediately to defend herself.
"Do just as you like about it," broke in Mildred. "If you are willing, and if Miss Gilbert does not mind, I will do my best to have the dress made in time. I must go home now, and you can let me know to-morrow morning. Terms? I do not ask any payment. Of course I hope to find work by-and-by, and to be paid for it; but this is merely to help you through a difficulty. It will be a pleasure to me."
[CHAPTER XIV]
THE CHANGE IN JESSIE
THE sisters consulted seriously after Mildred was gone. She had undoubtedly made a very kind proposal. If they yielded to her offer, and allowed her to do the work, and if she did it well, she might receive payment of another kind, since success in that direction would be extremely likely to bring other work to her hands. The Misses Coxen rather shrank from this possibility.
Yet why not? Mildred, as well as the Misses Coxen, had her way to make in life; and if she were a capable dressmaker, she was sure, sooner or later, to find employment for her needle. The Misses Coxen could not expect always to enjoy a monopoly of dressmaking in the neighbourhood.