Lou flourished in the laundry.  Out of her $18.50 per week she paid $6. for her room and board.  The rest went mainly for clothes.  Her opportunities for bettering her taste and manners were few compared with Nancy’s.  In the steaming laundry there was nothing but work, work and her thoughts of the evening pleasures to come.  Many costly and showy fabrics passed under her iron; and it may be that her growing fondness for dress was thus transmitted to her through the conducting metal.

When the day’s work was over Dan awaited her outside, her faithful shadow in whatever light she stood.

Sometimes he cast an honest and troubled glance at Lou’s clothes that increased in conspicuity rather than in style; but this was no disloyalty; he deprecated the attention they called to her in the streets.

And Lou was no less faithful to her chum.  There was a law that Nancy should go with them on whatsoever outings they might take.  Dan bore the extra burden heartily and in good cheer.  It might be said that Lou furnished the color, Nancy the tone, and Dan the weight of the distraction-seeking trio.  The escort, in his neat but obviously ready-made suit, his ready-made tie and unfailing, genial, ready-made wit never startled or clashed.  He was of that good kind that you are likely to forget while they are present, but remember distinctly after they are gone.

To Nancy’s superior taste the flavor of these ready-made pleasures was sometimes a little bitter:  but she was young; and youth is a gourmand, when it cannot be a gourmet.

“Dan is always wanting me to marry him right away,” Lou told her once.  “But why should I?  I’m independent.  I can do as I please with the money I earn; and he never would agree for me to keep on working afterward.  And say, Nance, what do you want to stick to that old store for, and half starve and half dress yourself?  I could get you a place in the laundry right now if you’d come.  It seems to me that you could afford to be a little less stuck-up if you could make a good deal more money.”

“I don’t think I’m stuck-up, Lou,” said Nancy, “but I’d rather live on half rations and stay where I am.  I suppose I’ve got the habit.  It’s the chance that I want.  I don’t expect to be always behind a counter.  I’m learning something new every day.  I’m right up against refined and rich people all the time—­even if I do only wait on them; and I’m not missing any pointers that I see passing around.”

“Caught your millionaire yet?” asked Lou with her teasing laugh.

“I haven’t selected one yet,” answered Nancy.  “I’ve been looking them over.”

“Goodness! the idea of picking over ’em!  Don’t you ever let one get by you Nance—­even if he’s a few dollars shy.  But of course you’re joking—­millionaires don’t think about working girls like us.”

“It might be better for them if they did,” said Nancy, with cool wisdom.  “Some of us could teach them how to take care of their money.”