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“When you’ve got neuralgy over your right eye,” observed Sadie Corn grimly, “there’s just one thing helps–that is to crawl into bed in a flannel nightgown, with the side of your face resting on the red rubber bosom of a hot-water bottle. And I can’t do it; so let’s talk about something cheerful. Seen Jo to-day?”

There crept into Julia’s face a wave of colour–not the pink of pleasure, but the dull red of pain. She looked away from Sadie’s eyes and down at her shabby boots. The sullen look was in her face once more.

“No; I ain’t seen him,” she said.

“What’s the trouble?” Sadie asked.

“I’ve been busy,” replied Julia airily. Then, with a forced vivacity: “Though it’s nothing to Auto Show Week last year. I remember that week I hooked up until my fingers were stiff. You know the way the dresses fastened last winter. Some of ’em ought to have had a map to go by, they were that complicated. And now, just when I’ve got so’s I can hook any dress that was ever intended for the human form–“

“Wasn’t it Jo who said they ought to give away an engineering blueprint with every dress, when you told him about the way they hooked?” put in Sadie. “What’s the trouble between you and–“

Julia rattled on, unheeding:

“You wouldn’t believe what a difference there’s been since these new peasant styles have come in! And the Oriental craze! Hook down the side, most of ’em–and they can do ’em themselves if they ain’t too fat.”

“Remember Jo saying they ought to have a hydraulic press for some of those skintight dames, when your fingers were sore from trying to squeeze them into their casings? By the way, what’s the trouble between you and–“

“Makes an awful difference in my tips!” cut in Julia deftly. “I don’t believe I’ve hooked up six this evening, and two of them sprung the haven’t-anything-but-a-five-dollar-bill-see-you-to-morrow! Women are devils! I wish–“

Sadie Corn leaned forward, placed her hand on Julia’s arm, and turned the girl about so that she faced her. Julia tried miserably to escape her keen eyes and failed.

“What’s the trouble between you and Jo?” she demanded for the fourth time. “Out with it or I’ll telephone down to the engine room and ask him myself.”

“Oh, well, if you want to know–” She paused, her eyelids drooping again; then, with a rush: “Me and Jo have quarrelled again–for good, this time. I’m through!”

“What about?”

“I s’pose you’ll say I’m to blame. Jo’s mother’s sick again. She’s got to go to the hospital and have another operation. You know what that means–putting off the wedding again until God knows when! I’m sick of it–putting off and putting off! I told him we might as well quit and be done with it. We’ll never get married at this rate. Soon’s Jo gets enough put by to start us on, something happens. Last three times it’s been his ma. Pretty soon I’ll be as old and wrinkled and homely as–“

“As me!” put in Sadie calmly. “Well, I don’t know’s that’s the worst thing that can happen to you. I’m happy. I had my plans, too, when I was a girl like you–not that I was ever pretty; but I had my trials. Funny how the thing that’s easy and the thing that’s right never seem to be the same!”

“Oh, I’m fond of Jo’s ma,” said Julia, a little shamefacedly. “We get along all right. She knows how it is, I guess; and feels–well, in the way. But when Jo told me, I was tired I guess. We had words. I told him there were plenty waiting for me if he was through. I told him I could have gone out with a real swell only last Saturday if I’d wanted to. What’s a girl got her looks for if not to have a good time?”

“Who’s this you were invited out by?” asked Sadie Corn.