Jennette Lee

“ She looked attentively at the black folds of the woman's gown. "I could alter that a little. It is loose here." She touched the shoulders.
"I have grown thin," said the woman, flushing a little. "I will put on a kimono if you would rather work on this. I have no other dress to put on."
Milly nodded. "That will do very well. Bring it to me—in the sewing-room, when you are ready." She moved toward the door with the undergarments on her arm.
There was no one in the wide corridors, and no sound of faintly asthmatic breathing came from the distant region beyond. ”

“ In the glance of the eye that took in her surroundings, she had turned to the woman with a smile. "What a pleasant room!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, it's pleasant enough," returned the woman. There was something almost defiant in the glance and tone.
"You sleep at the top. Do you want to go up?" she said.
Milly motioned to her suitcase. "I want to get out my sewing-things and wash my hands. Yes, I'd better go up now, then I shall not need to trouble you again."
The woman made no reply. She preceded her down the long cool hall and up a flight of stairs at the end. ”

“ Her glance passed swiftly to the mended garments piled on the chair. "I could 'a' done them for her—as well as you!"
Milly ignored the resentment, seeking only some sign in the heavy face to guide her. "I don't think she wanted me to do them." She laid her hand on the pile of clothes beside her. "She wanted me to alter the dress she has on. But she hasn't any other to wear while I am doing it. It is too large in the shoulders."
The woman rested her tray against the side of the door, pressing upon it with her bulk to ease the weight on her arms.
"She's grown thin," she said. ”

“ You will lay out work for me on the bed and I shall come and go between this room and the sewing-room for a while."
The woman, who had unfastened the neck of her dress and was pushing it back, paused. "I forgot!" she said quickly. "I shall need this dress to wear. I have no other, and I promised my husband to go motoring with him."
"When do you go?"
"This afternoon. He will be home for luncheon, he said, and then we start at once."
"No, that will hardly give me time," said Milly thoughtfully. "I do not work very fast." She smiled a little. ”

“ The servants will suspect."
"They are all at the back of the house," returned the woman.
"So much the better." Milly stepped into the wide hall.
At one end the sun poured in; at the other the branches of a great elm showed dark against the light. She turned toward the front staircase and went slowly down, passing through the intervening rooms to the sewing-room. The door from the breakfast-room had been closed by some one and she opened it again. She placed her chair where she could see into it, and out through the other rooms to the hallway and the stairs leading up from it. ”

“ He threw open the door, spoke a quick word to the chauffeur, and the car rolled off.
Milly's eyes followed it a minute. Then she turned leisurely toward the house. A woman who had been standing behind the screen-door watching her approach, surveyed her through the meshes.
"Are you the new sewing-woman?" she asked. And at Milly's response she opened the door half-grudgingly, it seemed, to admit her. She led the way down the hall to a small room at the left.
"You will work here," she said, throwing open the door.
Milly looked about the room with quick glance. ”

“ The woman took a step forward, looking at them doubtfully. "I gave away the others—everything except these. But these were so expensive!" She regarded them uncertainly. "I don't want to wear colors," she murmured. ”