“Maybe you will think I am very silly and inexperienced, and I know I am, but I’d like to know whether you have any offices to rent in this building, and how much you charge for them?”
The big eyes looked very childish as they were turned upon him, and Mr. Porter could not help showing some surprise at the question. He had a daughter about this girl’s age, and wondered how he would feel if she were in her place.
“Yes, we have one unoccupied office on the eighth floor, in the rear of the building. It is divided into two fair-sized rooms and the rental is four hundred dollars a year.”
Constance jumped. “Four hundred a year! Why that is almost as much as we pay for our whole house! My goodness, isn’t that a lot? I had no idea they cost so much. Dear me, I’m afraid I can never, never do it,” and her words ended with a doubtful shake of her head.
“Do you object to telling me just what you wish to do and why you need an office?” asked Mr. Porter kindly. “Perhaps I could offer some suggestions. Sometimes our tenants like to rent desk room, and if you needed no more than a desk——why——.”
“But I couldn’t use a desk for a counter, could I?” hesitated Constance.
“That depends upon what the counter had to hold. Suppose you tell me. Then we will see.” The deep blue eyes behind the glasses regarded her very encouragingly.
Constance’s eyebrows were raised doubtfully as she replied:
“I’m afraid you will think me very foolish and unsophisticated, and of course I am, but I just know I can succeed if I once get started right. Besides I won’t give up unless I have to. Other girls do things and there is no reason I shouldn’t. I know my candy is good, ’cause if it wasn’t Mammy could not sell it so easily, and—”
“Candy? Are you planning to sell candy? If it’s half as good as the candy an old colored woman sells around here you’ll sell all you can make. I buy some of her every time she comes here, and my girls ask every day if she has been around with it. It’s great candy.”