Laura told her the weekly wage Mrs. Pendleton had guaranteed. Although Lizzie Bean’s face was well nigh expressionless at all times, the girls saw at once that something was wrong.
“I dunno,” said Liz, slowly. “I have worked mighty cheap in my life—and I ain’t got no job when I leave here—an’ I gotter eat. But that does seem a naw-ful little wages.”
“Why! I think that is real liberal,” declared Jess, with some warmth.
Liz eyed her again coldly. “You must ha’ worked awful cheap in your life,” she said.
“I know,” Laura explained, quietly, laying an admonitory hand upon her chum’s arm, “You know, that is what you will receive each week.”
“What’s that?” demanded Liz, with a jump, “Say that again, will ye?”
“We will pay you that sum weekly,” repeated Laura.
“Say—say it by the month!” gasped the lean girl, her eyes showing more surprise than Laura had thought them capable of betraying.
Laura did as she was requested. A slow, faint grin dawned on Liz Bean’s narrow countenance.
“I been useter gittin’ paid by the month—and sometimes not then. Some ladies has paid me so 43 little for helpin’ them that I wisht they’d paid me only every three months, so’s ’twould sound bigger!