"Get used to it—never!" cried Faith, almost hysterically. "And you are not used to it, either, Mary; it is killing you this minute!"
"Perhaps you are right," said Miss Jennings, slowly, then as the customers were gradually drifting back into the store she went forward to wait upon them with her usual indifference.
For the next half hour Faith was very busy. The excitement had passed, leaving no trace behind it.
At exactly six o'clock a big gong was sounded. Faith was so tired and nervous that she almost cried for joy when she heard it.
"It has been the hardest day of my life," she said to Miss Jennings as they reached the cloak-room.
"Well, you'll have many such if you stay here long," was the reply. "There are nothing but hard days for the slaves of Denton, Day & Co."
There was a crowd of women and girls waiting at the lavatory basins, and as Faith caught sight of the towels she turned away with a shudder.
"You'll have to go home with dirty hands, Faith, but you musn't mind that; we wouldn't get out of here until midnight if we waited our turn at those basins."
Miss Jennings was putting on her hat as she spoke, and as Faith started to look for hers the clerk whom young Denton had called "Mag" came slowly up to them.
"Heard the news, eighty-nine?"