CHAPTER TWELVE C: THE WOMAN WITH THE MEASURING TAPE
Selena met Mrs. Elkin for the first time at a church clothing sale, several weeks before William mentioned the proposed workroom.
The seamstress was measuring a boy’s shoulders with a strip of knotted string while his mother searched through a basket of winter coats.
Selena stopped because the largest coat had a torn lining that would catch against the boy’s shirt.
“May I show you something?” she asked.
Mrs. Elkin looked at the gown beneath Selena’s plain cloak.
“That depends on what you intend to show me.”
Selena turned the coat inside out and found a loose edge near the collar.
“This will tear again before Christmas unless the lining is supported here.”
“I know,” Mrs. Elkin replied.
“I have three coats to finish before noon and no apprentice who can make the repair.”
Selena felt herself blush.
“I did not mean to criticize.”
“Most people who say that are criticizing,” the seamstress answered.
“Can you sew?”
“Yes.”
Mrs. Elkin handed her a needle.
“Then sit down.”
Selena worked beside the window while the boy’s mother waited.
The room smelled of wet wool, candle smoke, and the sharp soap used to wash donated clothes.
The needle was bent, and the thread was rougher than anything Selena used at home.
She adjusted her stitches until the lining moved freely beneath the coat.
Mrs. Elkin inspected the work without comment.
Then she handed Selena a second garment.
“This one belongs to the baker’s daughter,” she said.
“She has outgrown it, but her sister has not.”
Selena looked at the sleeves.
“There is enough cloth inside the cuff to lengthen them.”
“Show me.”
By noon, Selena had missed the carriage her father had sent to collect her.
She walked home with cold hands and a curious feeling of satisfaction.
At dinner Blanche noticed a dark stain on Selena’s cuff.
“What have you been doing?” she demanded.
“Sewing.”
“You always sew.”
“Today I helped someone who needed it.”
Sir Lionel put down his glass.
“I trust you did not make yourself ridiculous among tradespeople.”
Selena thought of the boy pulling on his newly repaired coat.
“I do not believe anyone was ridiculous,” she answered.
“Then there is no need to discuss it.”
But Selena found that she wanted to discuss it.
She wanted to know how Mrs. Elkin decided which work could be completed when there were more customers than hours.
She wanted to understand why the church sale could afford fine donated curtains but not a second needle of proper quality.
Most of all, she wanted to return without pretending that she was doing the seamstresses a favor merely by appearing.
