Cicely and Other Stories | Page 2

huddled in a disconsolate row along the eaves. It would soon
be time to be going home, and the only home Cicely had now was a
cheerless little back bedroom in a cheap boarding-house. She dreaded
going back to it. It was at least warm in Madame Levaney's
steam-heated workrooms, and it was better to have the noise and
confusion than the cold solitude.
Cicely's chair was the one nearest the entrance to the parlour where
madame received her customers, and presently some one passing
through the door left it ajar. Above the hum of the machines Cicely
could hear a voice that she recognised. It was that of Miss Shelby, a
young society girl, who was one of madame's wealthiest customers.
"I've brought my cousin, Miss Balfour," Cicely heard her say, "and we
want to ask such a favour of you, madame. You see my cousin stopped
here yesterday on her way East, intending to remain only one night

with us, but we've persuaded her to stay over to our party on New
Year's eve. Her trunks have gone on, and of course she hasn't a thing
with her in the way of an evening dress. But I told her you would come
to the rescue. You are always so clever,--you could get her up a simple
little party gown in no time. So, on the way down, we stopped at
Bailey's, and she bought the material for it. Show it to madame, Rhoda.
It's a perfect dream!"
Cicely heard the snapping of a string, the rustling of paper, and then
madame's affected little cry of admiration. But at the next word she
knew just how the little Frenchwoman was shrugging her shoulders,
with clasped hands and raised eyebrows.
"But, mademoiselle," Cicely heard her protesting, "it is impossible! If
you will but step to ze door one instant and obsairve! Evair' one is
beesy. Evair' one work, work, work to ze fullest capacitee. Look! All ze
gowns zat mus' be complete before ze New Year dawn, and only two
more day!"
She stepped to the door, and with a dramatic gesture pointed to the
busy sewing women and the chairs and tables covered with dresses in
all stages of construction.
"Only two day, and all zese yet to be feenish for zat same ball! Much as
I desire, it is not possible!"
Every one looked up as the two girls stood for a moment in the
doorway. Miss Shelby glanced around in a coldly indifferent way,
holding up her broadcloth skirt that it might escape the ravellings and
scraps scattered over the floor. She was a tall brunette as elegantly
dressed as any figure in madame's latest Parisian fashion-plate.
"Why can't you put somebody else off to accommodate me just this
once?" she said. "It is a matter of great importance. My cousin has
already bought the material on my promise that you would make it up
for her. I think you might make a little extra effort in this case, madame,
when you remember that I was one of your first customers, and that I
really brought you half your trade."

The little Frenchwoman wrung her hands. "I do remember,
mademoiselle! Indeed! Indeed! But you see for yourself ze situation.
What can I do?"
"Make some of the women come back at night," answered Miss Shelby,
turning back into the parlour, "and have them take some of the work
home to finish. I'm sure you might be obliging enough to favour me."
Miss Balfour had taken no part in the conversation. She stood beside
her cousin, fully as tall and handsome as she, and resembling her in
both face and figure, but there was something in her expression that
attracted Cicely as much as the other girl had repelled her.
Miss Shelby had not seemed to distinguish the sewing women from
their machines, but Rhoda Balfour noticed how pallid were some of the
faces, and how gray was the hair on the temples of the old woman in
the corner bending over her buttonholes. When her glance reached
Cicely, the appealing little figure in the black gown, she could not help
but notice the admiration that showed so plainly in the girl's face, and
involuntarily she smiled in response, a bright, friendly smile.
As she turned away she did not see the sudden flush that rose to
Cicely's cheeks, and did not know that her recognition had sent the
blood surging warmly through the sad and discouraged heart. It had
been two months since Cicely Leeds had been left alone in the strange
city, and this was the first time in all those weeks that any one had
smiled at her.
Sometimes it seemed to her that the loneliness would kill her if she
knew it must go on indefinitely.