laid down her work and began to rummage among
the mass of chiffons and laces piled up before her. In the shop
outside she could hear her daughter laughing and talking. Impatiently
the widow called out:

"Can't you come and help me, Fanny? Who are you talking to?"

"It's Mr. Gillie, mother," came the answer. "He's helping me close the
store."

A look of anxiety crossed Mrs. Blaine's face. It went against the
grain to entertain a person like Mr. Gillie, but for her child's sake
she said nothing, and when he called, as he had done very frequently
recently, she had tried to receive him as cordially as possible. But
to-night she was very tired. At times she felt dizzy and faint. His
interminable chatter and boasting would only weary her more. So,
hoping the visitor would take the hint, she called out again:

"Isn't Virginia home yet? It's getting very late."

"She couldn't be here yet," called out Fanny. "The concert's not over
till ten. We've all closed up now. I'm coming right in."

A moment later the young girl appeared, followed more leisurely by Mr.
Gillie.

The shipping clerk entered jauntily, a lighted cigar in his mouth,
full of self-assurance. He wore a check suit much too small for him, a
pink tie, and patent-leather shoes. Fanny's face was red and her
manner somewhat flustered, but this the mother, bent low over her
work, did not notice.

"Good evening, m'm," said Mr. Gillie, coolly seating himself without
waiting to be asked. Sitting back, crossing his legs and carelessly
flecking his cigar ash on the floor, he added in patronizing tones:
"How's the world using you?"

"Good evening, Mr. Gillie," returned the widow graciously. "How are
you?"

"Oh, fairly well to middlin'." Glancing at the littered table, he
said: "Still busy on the graduation dress, I see."

Mrs. Blaine sighed wearily.

"Yes--it's taking me longer than I bargained for. Sometimes I feel
very tired. I wish Virginia was here to try it on."

Fanny glanced at the clock. With a quick, significant look at Mr.
Gillie, she said quickly:

"She'll be here any moment now. The concert is usually out by this
time." There was an awkward pause and then she stammered: "Mr. Gillie
has something to say to you, mother."

Mrs. Blaine laid down her work and looked up in surprise.

"Something to say to me?" she echoed in amazement, looking inquiringly
from her daughter to the visitor.

But Fanny, her face crimson, had already bolted into the kitc