"I was beginning to imagine a fine bunch of horrors," he said. "Amy hadn't a ghost of a notion what was up." "I did not tell Amy I should be late," Jean replied. She offered no explanations, but Paul's concern was grateful after what she had undergone, and she added, "I'm sorry you worried." He eyed her narrowly, pausing an instant at the steps. "Any need for a man of my build?" he inquired. "Why do you ask that?" "Because I think you're in trouble. If I can help--" "No, no," she returned hastily. "But thank you." "Something has happened?" "Yes; at the store. I can't very well explain it." "Oh," said Paul, as if explanations were needless. "I'm not so sure I couldn't be useful." She felt that he divined something of what had transpired, his knowledge of the floor-walker being perhaps fuller than her own, but he said no more. Jean was singularly comforted by his attitude, especially since Amy's, as presently defined, left much to be desired. She seemed less amazed at Rose's behavior than at Jean's active resentment. "I wouldn't have struck him," she said. "What would you have done?" "I--I don't know. At any rate, not that. A girl has to put up with a lot." "I presume you wouldn't have reported him, either?" Jean flung out bitterly. "No; I didn't--I mean I wouldn't." Jean started. "I think you meant just what you said first, Amy," she cried. "Has he told you the same thing?" Amy writhed. "N-no," she began; "that is--" "Almost, then?" "Yes." "And you did nothing?" "I didn't dare do anything. I don't see how you dared. It's too big a risk." "I would have risked more in keeping quiet. I simply had to take it higher up." "But you said Mr. Rose offered to let it drop," Amy timidly reminded. "You could have done that." "That!" She had no words to voice her scorn. They went to bed and rose again in an atmosphere of constraint, and Jean walked to her day's work alone. She dreaded meeting Rose, and apprehended another interview with the junior partner, an ordeal which wore a more forbidding aspect by day. But neither happened. The floor-walker did not appear in the toy department at all, though some one had seen him enter the building. It was rumored that he was ill. Toward the end of the afternoon Jean noticed that she had become an object of some interest to the forewoman, and wondered hopefully if this influential personage had marked her for promotion. Her pay-envelope, for it was Saturday, shortly furnished a clew to the mystery in the shape of a neat slip informing her that her services were no longer required. "I'm to answer questions if you have any," the forewoman told her, shortly; "but I guess you understand." The girl turned a chalky face upon her. "But I don't--" "Then you're slower than I thought. The firm has looked you up, that's all." Jean realized the monstrous injustice of it but slowly. "I don't see," she faltered.