A wave of confusion rolled over Becky’s confident spirit. The gruff voice and the abrupt dismissal had not entered into her calculations. But she was not disposed to quit the field without a struggle, after so long a journey; so, gulping down her chagrin, she said,—
“But you don’t understand. I’ve come a long way to get work. My friends tell me I am competent, and I have specimens of drawing. You’ll surely look at them.”
“I shall do nothing of the sort,” said Mr. Woodfern, gruffly, not deigning to raise his eye. “I have all the draughtsmen I want; and I never employ girls.”
“Why, you give Miss Alice Parks work—don’t you?”
Caught. Mr. John Woodfern, how will you answer that question?
“I have given her work; and a precious sight of trouble she has made me.”
Becky makes a Hit. [Page 203].
There was some comfort in that to Miss Becky’s jealous heart. Miss Alice was not quite a paragon, after all.