Answering his
question, she said rather curtly:
"I believe I got a long distance for you the other day. I'm on the
telephone desk, you know. Stenography is only a side issue."
He still gazed at her admiringly, quick to note her well-bred manner,
her quiet aloofness, unusual in girls of her occupation.
"I remember," he nodded. "We had quite some difficulty in getting in
touch with Washington."
"Yes--there was trouble on the wires."
"But we got it at last, didn't we?" he smiled, making an effort to
break the ice and be friendly.
But Virginia intended to stick strictly to business. She must make it
plain that hers was not a social call. Quickly changing the topic, she
asked:
"Is the dictation ready?"
Stafford would have liked to continue the personal conversation. After
all, there was no immediate necessity of getting to work; the
correspondence could wait. But there was an icy haughtiness in the
girl's demeanor that discouraged any further attempt at getting
acquainted. Proceeding therefore to business, he picked up a paper
from the desk and commenced to dictate a letter.
CHAPTER V
The loss of her mother, following so soon after the death of her
father, had come as a terrible shock to Virginia. She felt it more
keenly even than Fanny, not only because her nature was more sensitive
and impressionable, but also because she realized that she had been
suddenly robbed of a constant and devoted companion. Fanny, who was
now officially engaged to Mr.
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