human
Humph! said Mrs. Staples, for it was she, when she spied the over-blouse under Betty's coat.
gpt
You are the young lady who was to purchase the blue blouse when it was finished?
human
For my friend here, said Betty, bringing Bobby forward.
gpt
I know she will like it.
human
I hope so, said Mrs. Staples.
gpt
It is finished. Ida sat up most of the night to finish it. Here it is,
human
How lovely! ejaculated Bobby eagerly.
gpt
I like it even better than I do your orange one, Betty. It's sweet.
human
It's twelve dollars, Miss, said the shop woman promptly.
gpt
You can pay me and take the blouse. I paid Ida for it.
human
Isn't the girl who made it here?
gpt
No, she ain't, said Mrs. Staples in her blunt way.
human
She left an hour ago.
gpt
Oh! Will she come back?
human
I don't expect her. I am sure I cannot be changing help all the time. She left me very abruptly. I did not ask her to come back.
gpt
Why, said Betty, wonderingly,
human
I thought you were her friend. Isn't she all alone in this country?
gpt
She is a girl who seems quite able to take care of herself, the grim shopwoman said.
human
Or she is determined to try. I advised her to write to her aunt----
gpt
Then she has an aunt over here?
human
So she thinks. An aunt for whom Ida was named. There was some family trouble, and Ida's father and her father's sister seem to have had nothing to do with each other for some years. The aunt is a singer--quite a noted concert singer, it seems. Ida came to Washington expecting to find her. She did not find the elder Ida Bellethorne----
gpt
Then there are three Ida Bellethornes!
human
So she came here to help me, continued Mrs. Staples, all the time watching Betty with a rather strange manner.
gpt
She would better have remained with me, as I told her. But she found in the paper last night this notice, the woman produced a torn piece of paper from the counter and handed it to Betty,
human
It is stated upon good authority that the great Ida Bellethorne will arrive at Cliffdale, New York, within a day or two, and will remain for the winter.
gpt
Why, how odd, murmured Betty.
human
And did this make Ida go away?
gpt
She has gone to Cliffdale to meet her aunt. That was her intention, said Mrs. Staples.
human
Are either of you young ladies prepared to buy this blue blouse?
gpt
Oh, yes, indeed! cried Bobby, who had taken a fancy to the blouse.
human
I've got money enough. And it was nice of Miss Bellethorne to finish it for me before she went. I wish I might thank her personally.
gpt
I do not expect to see Ida again, the shopwoman repeated in her most severe manner, wrapping up the over-blouse.
human
Twelve dollars--thank you, Miss. Can I show you anything else?
gpt
Wait! gasped Betty.
human
I want to ask you--I wanted to ask Ida Bellethorne if she saw me drop anything here in the store yesterday?
gpt
I am sorry she is not here to answer that question, said Mrs. Staples.
human
I was not here when you came, Miss.
gpt
No, I know you weren't. But somewhere while I was shopping yesterday I lost something out of my bag. If it dropped out here----
human
I can assure you I picked up nothing, Miss,
gpt
If Ida----
human
If Ida Bellethorne did, she is not here, unfortunately, to tell you,
gpt
Oh, dear!
human
But you don't know that you dropped it here,
gpt
I have nothing more to say, Miss, the woman declared.
human
Ida not being here----
gpt
Oh, well, said Betty, trying to speak more cheerfully,
human
I cannot be responsible for what Ida Bellethorne would do or say, replied the shopwoman grimly.
gpt
Not having been here myself when you came, Miss----
human
Oh, yes! I understand, said Betty hastily.
gpt
Well, thank you for keeping the blouse for us. Good-bye.