She had been sitting at the
window, reading a book lent her by Waymark.
"They said they liked my appearance," Sally went on, "and 'ud give
me a try. I go in to-morrow. It won't be a over easy place, neither.
I've to do all the cleaning in the house, and there's a baby to look
after when I'm not in the shop."
"And what will they give you?"
"Ten shillings a month for the first half-year; then a rise."
"And you're satisfied?"
"Oh, it'll do till something better turns up. Oh, I say, I met your
friend just after I'd come away."
"Did you?" said Ida quietly.
"Yes; and I told him he could tell his friend where I was, if he
liked."
"His friend?"
"The Irishman, you know," explained Sally, moving about the room. "I
told you he'd been asking after me."
Ida seemed all at once to awake from a dream. She uttered a long
"Ah!" under her breath, and for a moment looked at the girl like one
who is struck with an unexpected explanation. Then she turned away
to the window, and again gazed up at the blue sky, standing so for
nearly a minute.
"Are you engaged to-night?" Sally asked presently.
"No; will you sit with me?"
"You're not feeling very well to-day, are you?"
"I think not," replied Ida, passing her hand over her forehead.
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