He bit his lips and locked
his fingers together nervously.
It was plain that another word would have meant his immediate discharge,
and there was an invalid mother depending upon him. He was obliged to
hold his peace, though the words almost choked him. "Then I am to tell
Mr. Gibson to double Miss Jennings' fine."
The superintendent broke in upon him again in his snappiest manner.
He had suddenly turned and caught sight of the timid young applicant,
who was standing almost motionless in the centre of the office.
"No!" he roared out, angrily. "Tell him to discharge Miss Jennings at
once! Here is a girl he can take on in her place. She's green, but Miss
Fairbanks, the buyer, can train her."
"Oh! no, sir! Not for the world!"
It was a cry of almost horror that issued from the young girl's lips.
Even Mr. Forbes looked startled, and he was not usually startled at
anything.
The applicant was standing before him now, with her head held high and
her blue eyes flashed like diamonds over his shameful proposition.
"Oh, no, sir! I beg that you will not dream of doing such a thing. I
would starve before I would deprive that poor girl of her position. If
you have no place for me, I will go at once. If I were to take her place
it would be a cruel injustice!"
She looked him fearlessly in the face as she spoke the words.
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