"Oh, you're jealous of her, are you, Mag?" said the young man with a laugh. "Well, I don't wonder, for she is a peach. I'm in love with her this minute!" "You're a flirt, all right, Mr. Denton," said the girl, with a pout. "I think she's as awkward as anything, and her color is abominable." "She's as fresh as a daisy," was the young man's answer. "Forbes had an eye for beauty when he hired that lovely creature." "You men have queer taste," snapped the saleswoman, angrily, but the young man had passed on, staring at Faith all the way. Miss Fairbanks greeted him with a bow that was positively servile. "That's old Denton's son Jim," explained Miss Jennings to Faith as she handed up a check. "He's a regular masher. Comes in here every few days, just to flirt with the girls. They say he's very wild and costs his father a lot of money." "He is very bold," was Faith's whispered answer. "Why, he stared at me as if I were a dummy instead of a lady." "Oh, we are none of us ladies: we are only clerks," replied Miss Jennings, bitterly. "If we were to snub Jim Denton he would make a lot of trouble for us." "Mercy!" cried Faith. "It doesn't seem possible! Why, there seems to be pitfalls on every side for the girl who earns her own living." Miss Fairbanks was coming, so the conversation was ended abruptly. Miss Jennings went back to a customer who had just stopped at the counter. "Show me some yellow ribbon, right away, miss," she said, very sharply. "I want to match this sample. Here, take a good look at it!" Faith glanced down and saw that the customer was an ignorant-looking woman. She had on tawdry clothing and a lot of cheap jewelry. Miss Jennings took the sample and glanced at it sharply. "Do you wish exactly the same shade and width?" she asked, very politely. "Of course! What did you suppose I brought the sample for if I don't?" cried the woman. "You must be a dunce to ask such a question!" Faith felt her cheeks grow hot at this arrogant insult, but Miss Jennings replied as quietly as ever, "I cannot give you the same shade nor the same width exactly, madam. This is the nearest I have." She handed her a roll that was a little different from the sample. "But you must have it! Look again!" commanded the woman, angrily. "You are just trying to save yourself trouble, you lazy hussy!" Miss Jennings turned very indifferently and called to another of the saleswomen: "Miss Jones, have we any number twelve lemon in reserve? Here's a sample, and this lady is anxious to match it." Miss Jones glanced at the sample that Miss Jennings was holding. "You know very well that we are all out of that," she replied, sharply. "How often have I told you not to bother me with such questions!" Miss Jennings handed the sample to the customer without the slightest trace of emotion. "The 'head of stock' says we have none. I trust you will believe her, madam."