Oh , if Patty were to -- to -- but Marcella could not complete the sentence even in thought . If they were not so desperately poor ! Marcella 's bitterness overflowed her soul at the thought . Everywhere around her were evidences of wealth -- wealth often lavishly and foolishly spent -- and she could not get money enough anywhere to save her sister 's life ! She almost felt that she hated all those smiling , well-dressed people who thronged the streets . By the time she reached the store , poor Marcella 's heart was seething with misery and resentment . Three years before , when Marcella had been sixteen and Patty nine , their parents had died , leaving them absolutely alone in the world except for their father 's half-sister , Miss Gibson , who lived in Canning and earned her livelihood washing and mending for the hands employed in the big factory nearby . She had grudgingly offered the girls a home , which Marcella had accepted because she must . She obtained a position in one of the Canning stores at three dollars a week , out of which she contrived to dress herself and Patty and send the latter to school . Her life for three years was one of absolute drudgery , yet until now she had never lost courage , but had struggled bravely on , hoping for better times in the future when she should get promotion and Patty would be old enough to teach school . But now Marcella 's courage and hopefulness had gone out like a spent candle . She was late at the store , and that meant a fine ; her head ached , and her feet felt like lead as she climbed the stairs to her department -- a hot , dark , stuffy corner behind the shirtwaist counter . It was warm and close at any time , but today it was stifling , and there was already a crowd of customers , for it was the day of a bargain sale . The heat and noise and chatter got on Marcella 's tortured nerves . She felt that she wanted to scream , but instead she turned calmly to a waiting customer -- a big , handsome , richly dressed woman . Marcella noted with an ever-increasing bitterness that the woman wore a lace collar the price of which would have kept Patty in the country for a year . She was Mrs. Liddell -- Marcella knew her by sight -- and she was in a very bad temper because she had been kept waiting . For the next half hour she badgered and worried Marcella to the point of distraction . Nothing suited her . Pile after pile , box after box , of shirtwaists did Marcella take down for her , only to have them flung aside with sarcastic remarks .
Mrs. Liddell seemed to hold Marcella responsible XXXXX the lack of waists that suited her ; her tongue grew sharper and sharper and her comments more trying .
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