Mrs. Austin’s resolve not to tell her about the lamp-shade making until
Sandy returned with good news vanished in the stress of this necessity,
and she hastily related to Doris that her nephew had thought of some
paying work which she might be able to do.
The girl was startled at the idea of such work. It was very different
from what she had been attempting; but her downfall was too real for her
to be able to indulge in her former hopes, and her need of money was too
great for her to be fastidious, she therefore brightened up a little,
and began to talk about the new project. At all events this might
provide her with sufficient money for food and lodgings until she could
procure something better.
The two went on discussing the matter whilst Doris drank her tea and ate
her egg and bread and butter; and then Mrs. Austin took the tray down,
and waited impatiently for the return of her nephew.
At last he came in, bringing the manager’s compliments to Miss Anderson,
and he begged her to call upon him the next day.
Doris, therefore, went to the ironmonger’s shop in the morning, was duly
shown into the manager’s room, and, after remaining there, some little
time talking over the matter with him, the result was that she was
engaged to work at lamp-shade making for the firm, in a little room
behind the shop, for eight hours a day, at a salary commencing at
sixteen shillings a week.
This arrangement Doris thought a more desirable one than another which
would necessitate her providing her own materials, making the shades in
her attic, and receiving so much a dozen for them. She stipulated,
however, that if the shades sold well her salary should be increased in
proportion.
Weeks and months of pretty, if monotonous work followed for Doris. Her
candle- and lamp-shades were a decided success, and sold quickly at low
prices. One window of the shop was given up for a display of them, and
they made a "feature," or a "speciality," which attracted customers.
The head of the firm, Mr. Boothby, sent for Doris one day, praised her
handiwork, and raised her salary to a pound a week.
Doris was very thankful for the additional money, as it enabled her
gradually to pay her kind landlady all she owed, and still have fifteen
shillings a week for her board and lodging. More than this the good
woman would not take, and as for Sam, he stoutly refused to be paid
anything for the use of his cab on the picture business. One favour
only he begged, and that was that Miss Anderson would give him one of
the little pictures he had endeavoured to assist her to sell.
Doris chose one of the best, and wrote his name on the back of it, much
to his delight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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