"Children?"
A quivering of the lips, which grew suddenly white. This, however, was not apparent to the clerk, for Mrs. Lenoir wore a veil, and did not raise it.
"Children?" repeated the clerk.
"I have none."
"References?"
She paused before she replied, and then slowly said:
"I was not aware that references were necessary."
To the clerk's surprise the contractor took up the burden of the inquiry.
"We are very particular," he said, with a frown, "about the character of the persons we employ, and references, therefore, are necessary."
"I did not know," said Mrs. Lenoir, in so low a tone that the words scarcely reached their ears; and turned to depart.