单选题 Onceacrosstheriverandintothewholesaledistrict,sheglancedaboutherforsomelikelydooratwhichtoapply.Asshecontemplatedthewidewindowsandimposingsigns,shebecameconsciousofbeinggazeduponandunderstoodforwhatshewas—awage-seeker.Shehadneverdonethisthingbeforeandlackedcourage.Toavoidconspicuityandacertainindefinableshameshefeltatbeingcaughtspyingaboutforsomeplacewhereshemightapplyforaposition,shequickenedherstepsandassumedanairofindifferencesupposedlycommontooneuponanerrand.Inthiswayshepassedmanymanufacturingandwholesalehouseswithoutonceglancingin.Atlast,afterseveralblocksofwalking,shefeltthatthiswouldnotdo,andbegantolookaboutagain,thoughwithoutrelaxingherpace.Alittlewayonshesawagreatdoorwhichforsomereasonattractedherattention.Itwasornamentedbyasmallbrasssign,andseemedtobetheentrancetoavasthiveofsixorsevenfloors."Perhaps,"shethought,"theymaywantsomeone"andcrossedovertoenter,screwinguphercourageasshewent.Whenshecamewithinascoreoffeetofthedesiredgoal,sheobservedayounggentlemaninagreyclerksuit,fumblinghiswatch-chainandlookingout.Thathehadanythingtodowiththeconcernshecouldnottell,butbecausehehappenedtobelookinginherdirection,herweakeningheartmisgaveherandshehurriedby,tooovercomewithshametoenterin.Afterseveralblocksofwalking,inwhichtheuproarofthestreetsandthenoveltyofthesituationhadtimetowearawaytheeffectofherfirstdefeat,sheagainlookedabout.Overthewaystoodagreatsix-storystructurelabeled"StormandKing,"whichsheviewedwithrisinghope.Itwasawholesaledrygoodsconcernandemployedwomen.Shecouldseethemmovingaboutnowandthenupontheupperfloors.Thisplaceshedecidedtoenter,nomatterwhat.Shecrossedoverandwalkeddirectlytowardtheentrance.Asshedidsotwomencameoutandpausedinthedoor.Atelegraphmessengerinbluedashedpastherandupthefewstepswhichgracedtheentranceanddisappeared.Severalpedestriansoutofthehurryingthrongwhichfilledthesidewalkspassedaboutherasshepaused,hesitating.Shelookedhelplesslyaroundandthen,seeingherselfobserved,retreated.Itwastoodifficultatask.Shecouldnotgopastthem.(2)Sosevereadefeattoldsadlyuponhernerves.Shecouldscarcelyunderstandherweaknessandyetshecouldnotthinkofgazinginquiringlyaboutuponthesurroundingscene.Herfeetcarriedhermechanicallyforward,everyfootofherprogressbeingasatisfactoryportionofaflightwhichshegladlymade.Blockafterblockpassedby.UponstreetlampsatthevariouscornersshereadnamessuchasMadison,Monroe,LaSalle,Clark,Dearborn:andstillshewent,herfeetbeginningtotireuponthebroadstoneflagging.Shewaspleasedinpartthatthestreetswerebrightandclean.Themorningsunshiningdownwithsteadilyincreasingwarmthmadetheshadysideofthestreetspleasantlycool.Shelookedattheblueskyoverheadwithmorerealizationofitscharmthanhadevercometoherbefore.(3)Hercowardicebegantotroubleherinaway.Sheturnedbackalongthestreetshehadcome,resolvingtohuntupStormandKingandenterin.Onthewaysheencounteredagreatwholesaleshoecompany,throughthebroadplatewindowsofwhichshesawanenclosedexecutivedepartment,hiddenbyfrostedglass.Withoutthisenclosure,butjustwithinthestreetentrance,satagrey-hairedgentlemanatasmalltable,withalargeopenledgerofsomekindbeforehim.Shewalkedbythisinstitutionseveraltimeshesitating,butfindingherselfunobservedsheeventuallygatheredsufficientcouragetofalterpastthescreendoorandstoodhumblywaiting.(4)"Well,younglady,"observedtheoldgentleman,lookingathersomewhatkindly—"whatisityouwish?"(5)"Iam,thatis,doyou—Imean,doyouneedanyhelp?"shestammered.(6)"Notjustatpresent,"heansweredsmiling."Notjustatpresent.Comeinsometimenextweek.Occasionallyweneedsomeone."(7)Shereceivedtheanswerinsilenceandbackedawkwardlyout.Thepleasantnatureofherreceptionratherastonishedher.Shehadexpectedthatitwouldbemoredifficult,thatsomethingcoldandharshwouldbesaid—sheknewnotwhat.Thatshehadnotbeenputtoshameandmadetofeelherunfortunatepositionseemedremarkable.Shedidnotrealizethatitwasjustthiswhichmadeherexperienceeasy,buttheresultwasthesame.Shefeltgreatlyrelieved.(8)Somewhatencouraged,sheventuredintoanotherlargestructure.Itwasaclothingcompany,andmorepeoplewereinevidence.(9)Anofficeboyapproachedher.(10)"Whoisityouwishtosee?"heasked.(11)"Iwanttoseethemanager,"shereturned.(12)Heranawayandspoketooneofagroupofthreemenwhowereconferringtogether.Onebrokeoffandcametowardsher.(13)"Well?"hesaid,coldly.Thegreetingdroveallcouragefromheratonce.(14)"Doyouneedanyhelp?"shestammered.(15)"No,"herepliedabruptlyandturneduponhisheel.(16)Shewentfoolishlyout,theofficeboydeferentiallyswingingthedoorforher,andgladlysankintotheobscuringcrowd.Itwasasevereset-backtoherrecentlypleasedmentalstate.问：Shequickenedherstepsbecauseshe______.