"Good-morning, Mr. Porter," she answered.—"Say, Miss Isaacs, how much do these lisle ones sell at?"
"I thought," said Mr. Porter, fixing her with his apparently emotionless gaze, "that I would just come over and see if you were well taken care of."
"None better, Mr. Porter." Katie smiled sweetly as she said it, and still more sweetly as she significantly added: "Them's always taken good care of as are used to takin' good care of themselves."
Mr. Porter blinked, but his expression, or lack of expression, did not alter.
"No doubt," he responded, as he reluctantly made ready to go away; "but I shall be glad to be of help at any time I can."
"Thank you, Mr. Porter."
"And I shall drop around now and then to see that all goes well."
"Thank you, Mr. Porter."
"Because I was always interested in Miss Costigan—very much interested, and she was very pleasant to me—and I am naturally very much interested in her successor, too."
"Thank you, Mr. Porter."