She led Faith up to one of the gates at the ribbon counter and showed her how to crawl up to the packer’s desk above the shelves, where the stock was kept.

“Now, when one of the saleswomen hands you up a check and some ribbon you must measure the ribbon carefully to see that the firm is not being cheated,” she explained in a shrill voice, “and if one of the girls makes a mistake report it to me immediately.”

Faith was up by this time and trying to accommodate herself to the awkward position, while she listened intently to all the buyer’s instructions.

The packer’s desk was so low that it cramped her limbs even in sitting, and Faith soon saw that she was older and larger than any other girl in that position on the floor.

This fact alone made her feel awkward and uncomfortable, and when she saw one of the clerks looking up at her and tittering she blushed and nearly cried through sheer embarrassment.  To add to her nervousness she soon noticed that two men, who were standing in one of the aisles, were watching her every movement for some reason or other.  She was thankful when the checks and goods began to come up.  It was a relief to keep her eyes on the different packages.

Faith had never had much experience in doing up parcels, but she managed very nicely after her hands stopped trembling.

Long before noon she was aching in every muscle.  The dust that rose from the floor was irritating her throat and the store was so hot that her head was aching.

She looked down at the clerks, who had been on their feet steadily since eight o’clock, and began to understand the callousness of their expressions.  A great throb of pity for them, rather than for herself, dimmed her eyes for an instant so that she could not see her packages.

During that first few hours Faith could not help noticing how often Number 89 sent up goods to be wrapped.  There were double as many sales to her credit as to any of the others at the counter, and at a leisure moment she leaned over and looked down at her.

Just as she did so Number 89 was seized with a fit of coughing.  It was over in a minute, but was extremely severe while it lasted.

In spite of herself Faith could not resist glancing at her often, and once when she caught her eye she smiled at her pleasantly.

The effect was magical.

Number 89 soon handed up a check and three yards of ribbon, and as their hands met over the goods she caught and squeezed the “packer’s” little finger.

“I’m sorry you have such a cough!”

Faith whispered the words quickly.

Number 89 was about to reply when Miss Fairbanks, the buyer, passed the counter.

“No loitering, Miss Jennings!  Don’t you see there are customers waiting?  Forward at once!  And you, packer, attend to business!  I see you have goods in your hands.  Wrap them up this minute!”

CHAPTER IV.