"We have to keep
our employees up to the mark, you know," he added in a low tone, by way
of apology for his brusqueness. "The best of them become careless.
But Cash has found a friend this time, so we'll let it pass."

Cash, who was busily picking up the boxes, made a little grimace to
herself at his change of manner. The lady politely inclined her head
by way of acknowledgment, and the floor-walker left abruptly, having
suddenly discovered that something required his immediate attention in
another part of the store.

When he had disappeared, the little girl looked up and faltered
gratefully: "Thank you, ma'am!"

Mrs. M---- now for the first time took notice of the individual to whom
she had just rendered a service. She glanced down upon a freckled face
of the complexion described as pasty, a pair of greyish-blue eyes, and
a tangle of reddish curls just long enough to admit of being tied back
with the bit of crumpled ribbon which kept them tidy. Cash was not of
prepossessing appearance; yet perhaps because, the grateful glance
touched a chord common to humanity in the heart of the stranger, or
because one naturally warms to any creature whom one has befriended, or
perhaps simply from the sweet womanliness which finds all childhood
attractive,--whatever the motive, upon the impulse of the moment the
lady did a very graceful thing. Taking a rose from the bunch of
jacqueminots she wore, she fastened it to the breast of the child's
black apron, and was gone before the latter could recover from her
astonishment.

It was only a little incident, but it changed the whole aspect of
Cash's day. The beautiful flower glowed against the dark uniform, like
a bit of joy vouchsafed to a sombre life.

"How lovely!" exclaimed the salesgirl. "Aren't you lucky, Cash! Don't
you want to exchange with me? I'll give you a delicious orange I
brought with my lunch for that posie."

Cash shook her head. As soon as she could, she stole away to the room
where the girls kept their cloaks and hats. Here, after a furtive look
around to see that ho one was by who might snatch, it away, she
unpinned the rose and slipped it into a small card-board box, having
first carefully wrapped the stem in a piece of well moistened paper.
Then she tucked the box into the pocket of her jacket, and ran
downstairs to the store again.

For the next two or three hours it happened that Cash was kept running
to and fro almost without intermission; but