As Mrs.Bydington had not kept her appointment, was it not impossible to send her gown home as they had promised?
"Oh, it makes no difference," replied Madame blandly, for she was in a good humour.

"She'll come back when she is ready.

The next time she is here, by the way, I want her to see Mrs.Fowler--I mean Mrs.Carr.

She has worn out every one else in the place, and yet she is never satisfied; but I'd like her to take that pink velvet from Gautier, because nobody else is likely to give the price." The day was over and Madame's blandness was convincing evidence of her satisfaction.
As Gabriella passed through the last showroom, where the disorder of the sale was still visible, she saw Miss Murphy, the handsomest and the haughtiest of the young women, wearily returning the few rejected hats to the ivory-tinted cases.
"You are glad it is over, I know," she remarked sympathetically, less from any active interest in Miss Murphy's state of feeling than from an impulsive desire to establish human relations with her fellow saleswoman.

If Miss Murphy would have it so, she preferred to be friendly.
"I am so tired I can hardly stand on my feet," replied Miss Murphy, piteously.