If Lydia hoped to impress Miss Graham by the announcement, she was destined to disappointment.
“You may thank your lucky stars,” said that young lady impressively, “that old Madam took to you. Girls have been tumbling over one another, by all accounts, to get that job of yours.”
“Madame Ribeiro seemed very kind,” said Lydia demurely.
“You won’t see anything of her in the shop. Madame Elena runs that part of it altogether. She bosses the staff, of course, and does all the buying, but she’s no head for figures, and that’s why there’s to be an accountant. You’ll be sort of different from the other girls, in your position. Higher up, I mean.”
Lydia felt very pleased, but she only said:
“Are all the others saleswomen?”
“Elena mostly does that herself, but she lets the senior girl, Miss Ryott, help. She and the other one, Miss Saxon, are really models. I’m at the desk.”
“Do you like it?”
Miss Graham shrugged her little thin shoulders.
“I see plenty of life,” she remarked. “You’ll be in the show-room too. There’s a table behind a screen for you, all ready. The bills will be brought to you as soon as I’ve stamped them.”