Seeing that it was fairly well done, she went away.
The pieces of leather came from the girl at the machine to her right, and were passed on to the girl at her left.

Carrie saw at once that an average speed was necessary or the work would pile up on her and all those below would be delayed.

She had no time to look about, and bent anxiously to her task.

The girls at her left and right realized her predicament and feelings, and, in a way, tried to aid her, as much as they dared, by working slower.
At this task she labored incessantly for some time, finding relief from her own nervous fears and imaginings in the humdrum, mechanical movement of the machine.

She felt, as the minutes passed, that the room was not very light.