Mr. Parker explained many technicalities peculiar to the Carlow
"Herald," translated some phrases of the printing-room, and enabled her to
grasp the amount of matter needed to fill the morrow's issue.
When Parker finished, the three incompetents sat watching the little
figure with the expression of hopeful and trusting terriers. She knit her
brow for a second--but she did not betray an instant's indecision.
"I think we should have regular market reports," she announced,
thoughtfully. "I am sure Mr. Harkless would approve. Don't you think he
would?" She turned to Parker.
"Market reports!" Mr. Fisbee exclaimed. "I should never have thought of
market reports, nor, do I imagine, would either of my--my associates. A
woman to conceive the idea of market reports!"
The editor blushed. "Why, who would, dear, if not a woman, or a
speculator, and I'm not a speculator; and neither are you, and that's the
reason you didn't think of them. So, Mr. Parker, as there is so much
pressure, and if you don't mind continuing to act as reporter as well as
compositor until after to-morrow, and if it isn't too wet--you must take
an umbrella--would it be too much bother if you went around to all the
shops--_stores_, I mean--to all the grocers', and the butchers', and that
leather place we passed, the tannery?--and if there's one of those places
where they bring cows, would it be too much to ask you to stop there?--and
at the flour-mill, if it isn't too far?--and at the dry-goods store? And
you must take a blank-book and sharpened pencil, And will you price
everything, please, and jot down how much things are?"
Orders received, the impetuous Parker was departing on the instant, when
she stopped him with a little cry: "But you haven't any umbrella!" And she
forced her own, a slender wand, upon him; it bore a cunningly wrought
handle and its fabric was of glistening silk.
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