tore
and looked up in the directory the addresses of several employment
agencies.

[Illustration]




VI


It was half past eleven when she stepped into the first agency on her
list, and business was in full tide.

While she stood shrinking by the door the eyes of a dozen women fastened
upon her, each with keen scrutiny. The sensitive color stole into her
delicate cheeks. As the proprietress of the office began to question her,
she felt her courage failing.

"You wish a position?" The woman had a nose like a hawk, and eyes that
held no sympathy. "What do you want? General housework?"

"I should like a position as waitress." Her voice was low and sounded
frightened to herself.

The hawk nose went up contemptuously.

"Better take general housework. There are too many waitresses already."

"I understand the work of a waitress, but I never have done general
housework," she answered with the voice of a gentlewoman, which somehow
angered the hawk, who had trained herself to get the advantage over people
and keep it or else know the reason why.

"Very well, do as you please, of course, but you bite your own nose off.
Let me see your references."

The girl was ready for this.

"I am sorry, but I cannot give you any. I have lived only in one home,
where I had entire charge of the table and dining-room, and that home was
broken up when the people went abroad three years ago. I could show you
letters written by the mistress of that home if I had my trunk here, but
it is in another city, and I do not know when I shall be able to send for
it."

"No references!" screamed the hawk, then raising her voice, although it
was utterly unnecessary: "Ladies, here is a girl who has no references. Do
any of you want to venture?" The contemptuous laugh that followed had the
effect of a warning to every woman in the room. "And this girl scorns
general housework, and presumes to dictate for a place as waitress," went
on the hawk.

"I want a waitress badly," said a troubled woman in a sub