“Great Heaven! why, young lady, what are you doing here with such an education?”
“Working, sir, as thousands do in this great city and elsewhere, for my daily bread.”
“Sewing folios at the bench, and we have no better in the shop,” added the foreman.
“Do you understand any other languages?” asked the wondering man of wealth.
“Italian and Spanish, sir. I was taught by my mother, who was not only a fine linguist, but had traveled a great deal in the countries where these various languages are spoken. I was born in Italy.”
“Yet of American parentage?”
“Yes, sir.”
“This is no place for you, young lady. Your education should place you in a far higher sphere.”
“Excuse me, sir. Shall I at once go to work to arrange these pages? I will sew them myself when I have them all right, so there will be no mistake.”
“Yes—yes—thank you. I will reward you well,” said Mr. Legare, with unusual warmth, for he was a very steady, precise old gentleman, generally, in all things.