"Who? Scammel? Oh, big and ugly."
"Does he ever come here?"
"Bless your heart, no! He's a millionaire with a house in Park-lane or somewhere, and a yacht, and a place on the river, and a Rolls-Royce, and no end more...." She was drawing entirely on her imagination. "I saw him once when he brought two ladies round the works—dressed-up creatures they were, too! One of them spoke to me. I nearly told her to mind her own business and not try the district visitor stunt on me."
Faith caught her breath. "You wouldn't dare!" she said aghast.
Peg laughed. "Wouldn't I! I'm not afraid of anybody or anything."
Faith could well believe her, and from that moment the friendship between the two girls was finally cemented. In a hundred small ways Peg proved herself nobly. She helped Faith through the long, weary days, taking extra work upon her own capable shoulders to save the younger girl; shielding her many times from the petty disagreeablenesses of the room and the sharp tongue of Miss Dell.
"You're not fit for a life like this," Peg said once angrily. "Why doesn't your mother send you somewhere better?"
Faith gave a little wavering smile. "It's not so easy now to get work," she said.
Her little face had grown pale and peaked during the last week, and there were shadows beneath her soft brown eyes.
"I should go sick if I were you," Peg advised one morning.