"I told you that you could have it for a third off."
"I know you did that, Mrs. Binks, and it's thank you I do for your kindness."
"Hum—hum. I'll take off a dollar more—for you."
"Thank you, no, Mrs. Binks. Good-night, Mrs. Binks."
This sort of thing went on, with variations, for three days, at the end of which time Mrs. Binks, as she would have phrased the occurrence, "came right out with it"; and for this ceremony she chose that morning hour when the other girls in the shop had the greatest amount of leisure to observe what happened.
"Miss Flanagan," said she, marching up to the thoroughly prepared Katie, and peering hard into the serene Irish eyes of her selected victim, "I like my clerks to look well."
"So I've been noticin'," said Katie.
"An' I don't like to speak about it when they don't," continued Mrs. Binks.
"You're just that tender-hearted!"
"But if you girls don't wear good clothes, my customers'll think I don't treat you right."