"Now how did I get where I am to-day?" she concluded dramatically, drawing up her right sleeve and pointing to the withered arm. "Because of that. It taught me a lesson when I was nothing but an empty-headed girl. That and the burn on my leg made a man of me, because it took most of the woman thing out of me. I learned to think like a man and to act like a man. I learned my job, same as a man. Yes! And beat my boss at it so he had to pay me a man's wages to keep me, and the company has to pay me big money now—or I'd go out and get it somewheres else."
Milly was impressed. She said doubtfully,—
"But you had great ability to do all that."
Ernestine shook her head,—
"Not so much more'n most."
"And good health."
"Yes. My health don't trouble me—and that's partly because I've had no chance to fool it away like most girls."
"So you think it all depends on the women," Milly said unconvinced.
"Women—oh, Lord!" Ernestine exclaimed irreverently, getting up and walking about the room. She examined the books and the few sketches of Jack's that Milly had kept and hung on the bare walls of the Reddons' living-room.
"My husband did those," Milly explained.