The gentleman immediately came forward, and Brownie gave him her card and the letter.
“Ah, yes, Miss Meta Douglas,” he said, pleasantly, reading the name, while his quick eye ran over her dainty figure from head to foot, taking in her beauty and expensive apparel at a glance. “You understand the business, I suppose. What department would you prefer to work in?”
“No, sir, I know nothing whatever about the business; I have come to learn,” she answered, frankly and simply.
The gentleman gave her a look of surprise, then a smile of amusement curled his lips.
“My dear young lady,” he said, a trifle embarrassed, “there is some mistake about this. We never employ any but experienced hands. The fall work is coming on rapidly, and we need those who can go right into it without any showing or teaching. Did not the advertisement say ‘none but experienced hands need apply?’”
“Yes, sir,” Brownie replied, with a sinking heart; “but I thought it might be only a mere form; and as I am very quick to learn anything, and necessity has suddenly compelled me to labor for my living, I thought I would apply for the easiest work I could find.”
“Do you think straw sewing easy work?” Mr. Coolidge asked, with a genial smile, and deeply interested in the fair stranger.
“I always thought it very pretty work, and judged it easy,” she answered, naïvely.
“Have you relatives living in New York?” Mr. Coolidge asked, thoughtfully.
“I have no relatives, excepting very distant ones,” and the sad tones touched him.