She cared little now for letting it be known that she had left her employment; with the step which she had at last taken, her position was quite changed; she had only kept silence lest Waymark should come to know.

Harriet was at first surprised to see her then seemed glad.
"I've only a minute ago sent a note, asking you to be sure to come round to-night.

I wanted you to help me with this new hat; you have such good taste in trimming." Ida would have been astonished at another time; for Harriet to be paying compliments was indeed something novel.

There was a flush on the latter's usually sallow face; she did not sit down, and kept moving aimlessly about.
"Give me your hat and jacket," she said, "and let me take them into the other room." She took them away, and returned.

Ida was not looking at her; otherwise she must surely have noticed that weird pallor which had all at once succeeded to the unhealthy flush, and the unwonted gleaming of her eyes.