"He is very bold," was Faith's whispered answer. "Why, he stared at me as if I were a dummy instead of a lady."
"Oh, we are none of us ladies: we are only clerks," replied Miss Jennings, bitterly. "If we were to snub Jim Denton he would make a lot of trouble for us."
"Mercy!" cried Faith. "It doesn't seem possible! Why, there seems to be pitfalls on every side for the girl who earns her own living."
Miss Fairbanks was coming, so the conversation was ended abruptly.
Miss Jennings went back to a customer who had just stopped at the counter.
"Show me some yellow ribbon, right away, miss," she said, very sharply. "I want to match this sample. Here, take a good look at it!"
Faith glanced down and saw that the customer was an ignorant-looking woman. She had on tawdry clothing and a lot of cheap jewelry.
Miss Jennings took the sample and glanced at it sharply.
"Do you wish exactly the same shade and width?" she asked, very politely.
"Of course! What did you suppose I brought the sample for if I don't?" cried the woman. "You must be a dunce to ask such a question!"