Sara proved an apt learner, and soon was making the treadle fly, while
her hostess, seeing her well underway, ran down-stairs for a time. When
she came back Sara had performed the cunning task of getting the pockets
in place, and was finishing off the long seams.
"How rapidly you work!" cried her new friend. "My husband told me how
business-like you were."
"Did he say so? I'm glad he thinks I am!" cried Sara, much pleased. "It
would be so annoying to a man like him if I were not."
"And why to him especially, Miss Olmstead?" asked the wife curiously.
"Because he is absorbed in his work, and cares for nothing outside. In
fact, one always is with that work," enthusiastically; "it takes your
whole being for the time."
"Yet the last girl he had was a dreadful little idler, and would
interrupt him in the midst of his most interesting researches to ask the
silliest questions."
Sara shook her head mournfully. "I don't see how she could!"
"Well, to tell the truth," bending forward confidentially, "isn't it
awfully dry and uninteresting? There! I wouldn't dare lisp it before my
husband, but isn't there a good deal of--of--well, humbug, about it?"
"Humbug!" Sara's eyes glowed. "That's because you haven't studied these
things, Mrs.
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