looked half doubtful, half amused. “ There’s something innocent and touching about her. ”
“ Is that it? ” He frowned consideringly. “ I don’t know. It’s something — indefinable. ”
At this magic word, which had recently taken on such a very special meaning, Loraine suddenly found her breath coming rather quickly.
“ Monsieur Florian! ” Her very pretty speaking voice ran up on to a slightly higher note in her excitement. “ Are you saying that I have a — an indefinable quality about me? ”
“ Just so. ” He nodded almost absently, while obviously pursuing his own line of thought. “ And she walks well and holds herself admirably, ” he murmured. Then his tone became brisk and businesslike as he said, “ Tell me, mademoiselle, does Monsieur Cardine of the chilly manner and remote ways intend to maintain you in comfortable idleness, or do you plan to make your own living? ”
“ Monsieur Cardine of the chilly manner and remote ways, ” replied Loraine, who liked the description, “ is certainly not going to maintain me, in any sense at all. I don’t know yet what my father left — not more than enough to provide me with a small income, I imagine — and this Monsieur Cardine — I mean my cousin Paul. — will presumably administer for me until I’m twenty-one. But, for my own part, I certainly intend to earn my own living, rather than be dependent — ”
“ Bon! ” Florian had heard all he wanted to hear and checked any further development of the theme. “ Then I offer you the chance of work in my firm. ”
“ Monsieur Florian — ! ” She was suddenly speechless.
“ You like the idea? ” He smiled, that truly wonderful smile which he kept for moments of real kindness or very important business.
“ Like it ? I love it! Why, I would willingly pick up pins in your dress house if I thought — ”
“ Not willingly, mademoiselle, ” Florian interrupted with good-humored irony. “ It is a tedious and back-breaking job which no one embarks upon willingly. But we will not waste you on that. I need a mannequin for the new Collection. We go on show in July, as you probably know, and we have not too much time. But it is decided, then, that you come to me as my youngest mannequin? ”
“ Why — why, yes — please. At least — I must speak to my guardian first. But I mean to, anyway. Only — oh, please wait one moment while I speak to him. ”
Loraine darted across the room, threading her way easily and skilfully among the crowds, until she arrived, a trifle breathless, beside Paul Cardine, who was standing by one of the long windows, not engaged in conversation with anyone at that moment.
“ Paul— ” She actually caught hold of his arm in her eagerness. “ Paul, something terribly exciting has happened — ”
A laughing group pushed past just then, so that she was pressed quite close against him, and she saw him glance down at her eager, flushed face with an almost startled air.
“ Oh — I’m sorry — ” She suddenly became aware that she was eagerly digging her fingers into his arm, and she also realized surprisedly that it was the first time she had actually touched him. “ I didn’t mean to grip you like that, But — do listen! Monsieur Florian wants me to be a mannequin in his dress house! ”
“ Florian does? ” He looked incredulous. “ You must be mistaken. You’re only a child. ”
“ I’m not a child! I’m eighteen, ” said Loraine indignantly.
“ Are you? — Well, yes, of course, I remember you are. ” He glanced down at her almost sombrely then and, in some queer way, as though he saw her for the first time. “ But that’s still awfully young, Loraine, to be holding your own in such a raffish and competitive world. ”
“ Monsieur, you do my dress house less than justice, ” observed Florian’s voice behind her, and she turned with some relief to see that the great designer had come to reinforce her own plea. “ There is