never had much to do with. Mrs. Thomas
makes lovely things for all the town ladies.
Did you know Mrs. Gardener is having a
purple velvet made? The velvet came from
Omaha. My, but it's lovely!" Lena sighed
softly and stroked her cashmere folds. "Tony
knows I never did like out-of-door work," she
added.

Mrs. Harling glanced at her. "I expect
you'll learn to sew all right, Lena, if you'll
only keep your head and not go gadding about
to dances all the time and neglect your work,
the way some country girls do."

"Yes, 'm. Tiny Soderball is coming to town,
too. She's going to work at the Boys' Home
Hotel. She'll see lots of strangers," Lena
added wistfully.

"Too many, like enough," said Mrs. Har-
ling. "I don't think a hotel is a good place for
a girl; though I guess Mrs. Gardener keeps
an eye on her waitresses."

Lena's candid eyes, that always looked a
little sleepy under their long lashes, kept
straying about the cheerful rooms with naive
admiration. Presently she drew on her cotton
gloves. "I guess I must be leaving," she said
irresolutely.

[[185]]

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