Violet, beside whom the stranger was standing, rose.
"Are you lookin' for the office?" she asked. "I'll show you the way."
The woman seemed to like her thoughtfulness and seemed, after a quick glance, to like her appearance even more.
"I am not particular about the office," said the newcomer; "what I want is a servant. Come outside a minute and talk to me."
Violet followed her into the street, wondering.
As they reached the pavement, the woman smiled: her smile was so pleasant that she almost ceased to be homely.
"I am a practical person," she said, "and as I also loathe and detest these agencies, I always, if possible, engage a girl so that she won't have to pay them their commissions.—Can you do general housework?"
"Yes."
"You don't look very strong."
The girl's heart throbbed. Mrs. Turner had said that dismissal was the result not of what had been done but of the thing's concealment.