"Now let me see," said the young man, seriously, with perfect deference of manner, only belied by the rollicking admiration in his eyes. "You have never held a position in a factory before, I think?" "No," replied Ellen. "There is at present only one vacancy that I can think of," said Flynn, "and that does not pay very much, but there is always a chance to rise for a smart hand. I am sure you will be that," he added, smiling at her. Ellen did not return the smile. "I shall be contented to begin for a little, if there is a chance to rise," she said. "There's a chance to rise to eighteen dollars a week," said Flynn. He smiled again, but it was like smiling at seriousness itself. Ellen's downright, searching eyes upon his face seemed almost to forbid the fact of her own girlish identity. "What is the job you have for me?" said she. "Tying strings in shoes," answered Flynn. "Easy enough, only child's play, but you won't earn more than three dollars a week to begin with." "I shall be quite satisfied with that," said Ellen. "When shall I come?" "Why, to-morrow morning; no, to-morrow is Friday. Better come next Monday and begin the week. That will give you one day more off, and the hot wave a chance to get past." Flynn spoke facetiously. It was a very hot day, and the air in the office like a furnace. He wiped his forehead, to which the dark rings of hair clung. The girl at the desk glanced around adoringly at him. "I would rather not stop for that if you want me to begin at once," said Ellen. Flynn looked abashed. "Oh, we'd rather have you begin on the even week--it makes less bother over the account," he said. "Monday morning at seven sharp, then." "Yes," said Ellen. Flynn walked off with an abrupt duck of his head. He somehow felt that he had been rebuffed, and Ellen rose. "I told you you'd get one," said the girl at the desk. "Catch Ed Flynn not giving a pretty girl a job." She said it with an accent of pain as well as malice. Ellen looked at her with large, indignant eyes. She had not the least idea what she meant, at least she realized only the surface meaning, and that angered her. "I suppose he gave me the job because there was a vacancy," she returned, with dignity. The other girl laughed. "Mebbe," said she. Ellen continued to look at her, and there was something in her look not only indignant, but appealing. Nellie Stone's expression changed again. She laughed uneasily. "Land, I didn't mean anything," said she. "I'm glad for you that you got the job. Of course you wouldn't have got it if there hadn't been a chance. One of the girls got married last week, Maud Millet. I guess it's her place you've got. I'm real glad you've got it." "Thank you," said Ellen. "Good-bye," said the girl. "Good-bye," replied Ellen.