"Oh, very well. Yes, sir. But I don't quite understand—"
"Well, I want to pick up some collector's pieces for my home, you see."
"Good pieces? Yes, sir. Of what sort?"
"Why, furniture—or—yes—some china stuff, I suppose. Maybe—er—some pictures."
"I see. You've not quite finished the decorations of your new home, Graystone Hall."
"Oh, you know the place?"
"Every one knows it, Mr. Rawn. It is very beautiful."
"It ought to be beautiful inside and out. To be brief about it, I know I oughtn't to ask an assistant who is only receiving forty-five dollars a week salary to act as expert for me in house decoration matters—that's entirely outside your business, Miss Delaware. At the same time—" Miss Delaware checked herself just in time not to mention the salary figure which Mr. Rawn had stated. If her oval cheek flushed a trifle, her long lashes did not flicker. This was ten dollars a week more. She had herself never once mentioned the matter of salary.
VI
"Of course, Mr. Rawn, I'd be willing to do anything I could," she said. "I know the city pretty well, having lived here for some time. If you would rather have me use my time in that way, it would be a great pleasure. I like nice things myself, though of course I could never have them. I've just had to flatten my nose against the window-pane!" She laughed, a low and even little burst of laughter, rippling; the most personal thing she ever had been guilty of doing in the office—then checked herself, colored, and resumed her perfect calm.