CHAPTER XVIII.
FAITH BECOMES AN OBJECT OF JEALOUSY.
As Mr. Day opened the office door with the message in his hand, he hesitated for a moment, in something like bewilderment.
Faith Marvin was standing before his partners with a paper in her hand, and just as he entered she was speaking eagerly. "We would be so thankful if you would do this, gentlemen—even for half a day, if you cannot spare a whole one. You see, poor Miss Jennings has no family, only a crippled brother, so we clerks are really her brothers and sisters. She was a dear, good girl; so patient and resigned. If we could lay her in the grave ourselves it would be a sweet and solemn pleasure."
She turned from one of the men to the other with her appealing glance, even including Mr. Day as he stood irresolute upon the threshold.
Mr. Forbes was the first to recover his voice. The girl's appearance and the petition had made them both dumb for a minute.
"It can't be done, Miss Marvin," he said, curtly. "It would be establishing a precedent; isn't it so, Mr. Denton?"
"But surely, Mr. Forbes, such a precedent would do no harm!" cried Faith quickly. "Poor Mary is the first clerk who has died in the store, you know. It isn't at all likely that there will be any others."
Mr. Forbes stared at her curiously. He was not exactly angry. As she stood supplicatingly before him, she was radiantly beautiful.