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. SOME UNPLEASANT INFORMATION. Faith's face turned scarlet, but she obeyed at once. The next instant the buyer was forgotten. She was thinking of Miss Jennings. So the superintendent had not carried out his threat after all. He could not have forgotten it, his anger had been too genuine. Faith was thankful enough that the poor girl was still at work, although she looked sick enough to be in bed in the care of a doctor. As Faith looked at her she could see plainly the stamp of death upon her brow. Her cheeks were bloodless and her eyes were sunken. After eleven o'clock the girls took turns in going to their luncheons. Some repaired to the basement lunch room, while others who could afford it patronized the nearby restaurants. It was a pleasant surprise to Faith when Miss Jennings joined her in the lunch room. She had a paper bag in her hand, while Faith carried a small basket.