The girl shrugged her shoulders. “Not in my shop,” she answered. “Anyhow, it was the only chance I ever had. Wish sometimes I’d taken it. It was quite a good part.”
“They must have felt sure you could act,” said Joan. “Next time it will be a clean offer.”
The girl shook her head. “There’s no next time,” she said; “once you’re put down as one of the stand-offs. Plenty of others to take your place.”
“Oh, I don’t blame them,” she added. “It isn’t a thing to be dismissed with a toss of your head. I thought it all out. Don’t know now what decided me. Something inside me, I suppose.”
Joan found herself poking the fire. “Have you known Mary Stopperton long?” she asked.
“Oh, yes,” answered the girl. “Ever since I’ve been on my own.”
“Did you talk it over with her?” asked Joan.
“No,” answered the girl. “I may have just told her. She isn’t the sort that gives advice.”
“I’m glad you didn’t do it,” said Joan: “that you put up a fight for all women.”
The girl gave a short laugh. “Afraid I wasn’t thinking much about that,” she said.