Quicksand
"Maybe. What kind? Have you references?"
Helga explained. She was a teacher. A graduate of Devon. Had been teaching in Naxos.
The girl was not interested. “Our kind of work wouldn‘t do for you,” she kept repeating at the end of each of Helga‘s statements. “Domestic mostly.”
When Helga said that she was willing to accept work of any kind, a slight, almost imperceptible change crept into her manner and her perfunctory smile disappeared. She repeated her question about the reference. On learning that Helga had none, she said sharply, finally: “I‘m sorry, but we never send out help without references.”
With a feeling that she had been slapped, Helga Crane hurried out. After some lunch she sought out an employment agency on State Street. An hour passed in patient sitting. Then came her turn to be interviewed. She
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