Page:The Lark - E Nesbit, 1922.djvu/183



there had been any hesitation in the mind of Jane and Lucilla as to whether the arrival of Gladys was to be regarded as a calamity or as a godsend the question was soon settled.

Gladys exhibited all the wonder and admiration which the girls had hoped from Mrs. Doveton, and even the most undiscerning of her encomiums served to endear to them both Gladys and Cedar Court.

She followed Mrs. Veale in her slow progress through the rooms, and her cheery "Ain't ye done yet?" did at last exasperate Mrs. Veale to something almost approaching activity.

Then she was initiated into the mysteries of the shop.

"It's always bin me dream," she said affably, "to be a young lady in a shop. And flowers is so toney, ain't they?"

She handled the flowers lightly and carefully, and conversed with customers in a way which set Lucilla and Jane trembling for the welfare of the business. But most of the customers seemed to enjoy Gladys's conversation, and to the few who did not Gladys smiled that wonderful wide smile of hers that made you think of collie dogs, and they forgave her.

Then she went off on her afternoon out and came back full of information.

"You give too much for the money, Miss Jane," she said. "I bin looking at the shops and prizing the flowers. If they didn't like me asking and then not buying they can lump it. I don't know what else they expect, with them prices and the flowers not half so fresh as what yours are.