"Miss Lee!" called out Mr. Tom.
Mildred moved forward quickly, looking at the new customer with an air of polite attention, but none of her employer's obsequiousness.
THE LATE CUSTOMER—Drawn by Jessie Curtis Shepherd.
Miss Jenner met the young girl's glance with a swift critical stare.
"Here," she said, rather shortly, "I want some gloves, and I'd prefer your serving me."
Miss Jenner's wishes could not be slighted, and so Mr. Hardman hovered about deferentially, rather altering his tone of insolent command when he spoke to the young sales-women, and finally dispersing them while he walked up and down the cloak and mantle department, out of Miss Jenner's hearing, yet sufficiently within sight to be recalled by a look from his wealthy patroness.
As soon as she found herself alone with the shop-girl, Miss Jenner said, with a searching glance at the young face bending over the glove-box:
"So you are Mildred! Child, it seems strange enough to see your father's daughter here. How did it happen?"
"Oh!" Mildred exclaimed. She drew a quick breath, while the color flashed into her cheeks. "Did you know papa?"