Gratia's Trials — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

GRATIA’S TRIALS. 49 although the air was full of spring chilliness, and the room smelt close and confined as a vault. | ‘“Couldn’t I learn your business, Mrs. Homer ?” said Gratia. ‘“You could learn it, I suppose,” said Mrs. Homer, ‘‘ but you couldn't live on it.” ‘¢ Why not?” ‘Business is overcrowded a’ready,” was the brief reply. ‘But don’t you know of anything else that I could do?” asked Gratia, after a short pause. _ **Miss Perry might know of something,” suggested Frances to heraunt. ‘‘ Miss Perry, in the fancy store below stairs, you know. There’s lots of people come to her to inquire for help in one business and another. Wouldn't it be worth while to go down and ask ?” ‘©Well—I don’t care if you do,” she hesitated. ‘‘ You go with her, Gratia. I can make up this sprig better if Pm alone.” Miss Perry, the proprietress of the lace, ribbon, and French gilt jewelry depot down stairs, was a fat, gaudily dressed old maid, with spectacles and false teeth. ‘©A situation, eh?” said Miss Perry, aloud, in answer to Frances Homer’s whispered communication. ‘‘Any refer- ence?” ‘‘Oh, she’s never lived out. She is just from the country,” said Frances. : ‘*Can you sew?” ‘*T can sew neatly, but not fast.” ‘¢ Know anything of housework ?” ‘‘Oh, yes,” Gratia answered, brightly. ‘‘ have been brought up to work, and I can do a little of anything. © Miss Perry opened a drawer, and shuffled through its con- tents until she succeeded in unearthing a fat memorandum- book, which she opened, referring to a list of addresses on the last page. | ‘JT suppose, as you haven't any recommend, and are a green EComicboo 3 <5) (E(0)