You never told me you'd learned the trade!" This last was rather reproachfully said; and Hilda, much amused, hastened to reassure the good woman.
"Indeed, I never learned the trade," she said.

"I take to it naturally, I think; and I have watched my mother, who does it much better than I." "She must be a first-class trimmer, then!" replied Miss Bean, emphatically.

"Works in one o' them big houses in New York, I reckon, don't she ?" Hildegarde laughed; but before she could reply, Miss Bean went on to say: "Wal, you're a stranger to me, but you've got a pooty good count'nance, an' ye kem with Farmer Hartley; that's reference enough." She paused and reflected, while Hildegarde, putting the finishing touches to the pretty hat, wondered what was coming.

"I wasn't calc'latin' to hire help this summer," continued the milliner; "but you're so handy, and yer ma could give ye idees from time to time.

So if ye'd like a job, I d' 'no' but I'd like to hire ye." The heiress of all the Grahams wanted to laugh at this naive proposal, but good feeling and good manners alike forbade.