"I don’t know." Elaine spoke languidly, more as if it were too much trouble to refuse than as if she welcomed the thought of Peggy’s ministrations. Indeed she was almost in the mood to resent the idea of being made comfortable. But Peggy slipped behind her chair, stroking the throbbing temples with a touch at once gentle and assured. "Uncle John telephoned me this evening," she observed. "He says you take things a little hard, but that you’ll be all right as soon as you’re used to it." Mrs. Marshall sighed heavily, and Elaine came to life sufficiently to say with some spirit, "There are some things one never would get used to." Peggy’s caressing hand paused a moment. "Some things! What sort of things do you mean?" "Like being snubbed, for instance." "Snubbed?" cried Peggy, startled. "Of course it’s no more than I should have expected. When I took up that work, I ought to have known that people would look down on me, and treat me accordingly. But, somehow, I wasn’t prepared for it." "Look here, Elaine," said Peggy, thoroughly aroused. "Business is business, and when a girl goes into an office, she must expect that she’ll be told of her mistakes. But to imagine that Uncle John is going to look down on anybody--" "Oh!" Elaine’s tone was apologetic, as she interrupted. "It wasn’t your uncle. He was very kind indeed, all that I saw of him. But along in the afternoon--" to her amazement she was obliged to pause to get control of her voice--"two girls came in, girls I met at your house," she faltered. "Their name is Henderson." "Bess and Lu! Well, what of it?" "Why, I spoke to them before I thought, just as I would anywhere. Everything seemed so strange that I had a silly feeling as if it were awfully nice to see anybody I knew. And they--O, Peggy!" Elaine broke down and sobbed helplessly. "They were so cold and distant, and all at once I realized how they must feel to have a girl in an office acting as if she thought she was as good as they were. I suppose I deserved to be snubbed." "If I had been listened to," observed Mrs. Marshall tragically, "this could not have happened." "Why, I never heard of such a thing," Peggy cried, finding her voice. "Lu and Bessie are nice, sensible girls, as far as I know. I can’t imagine their doing anything so ill-bred and silly as snubbing you for speaking to them. I simply can’t believe it." "It’s true, though." Elaine wiped away her tears and Peggy took a long look at her. "Well, what of it?" she said. Elaine hesitated. "You mean--" "I mean it’s not worth a second thought. If they didn’t intend anything, there’s no sense in worrying. And if they did, they’re beneath your notice." "But, Peggy!" Elaine expostulated, "don’t you see I can’t go on with this if people are going to look down on me and despise me? I don’t mind how hard I work, but this--" Something in Peggy’s look halted her mid-way in the sentence. The other girl’s eyes were ablaze.