She took Karina into a smaller room where there were two desks and the windows were shaded by Venetian blinds.
“Miss Weston will not be long,” the dark girl said. “By the way my name is Beth.”
“And I am Karina.”
They shook hands solemnly.
“Is this your first job?” Beth enquired.
Karina nodded.
“I am very nervous.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Beth replied. “There are plenty of other places wanting typists. In fact we are increasingly in demand. In consequence people are much nicer than they used to be when I first came to the City.”
“You don’t look as if you are old enough to have been working long,” Karina remarked.
“Five years. I am twenty-one,” Beth answered. “And pretty hardened by this time. Don’t worry, I will show you the ropes. And Miss Weston isn’t a bad old thing really.”
“Thank
