When they found anything wrong, they charged it upon her; and so she was kept constantly going to the manager, which was perhaps just what he wanted.
She grew paler and paler, and more and more desperate.

She had run away from one man; she had run away from a woman; but here was a man from whom she could not run away unless she gave up her position.

If it had not been for her grandmother, she would have done so at once; but, if she gave up her position, she would be thrown upon her grandmother for support, and that must not be.

She understood from the family talk that they were having just as much as they could do already to make both ends meet and keep the all-important god of Fashion satisfied.

This god of Fashion had come to seem to Elizabeth an enemy of the living God.