第5章

Ofcourse，shecouldnotwastetendernessonthisman，forshehaddeliberatelysetouttomakehimtheinstrumentofhervengeanceagainsthisfather。Forthatveryreason，shesufferedmuchfromaconsciencenewlyclamorous。Neverforaninstantdidshehesitateinherlong-cherishedplanofrevengeagainsttheonewhohadbroughtruinonherlife，yet，throughallhersatisfactionbeforetheprospectoffinalvictoryaftercontinueddelay，thereranthesecret，inescapablesorrowoverthefactthatshemustemploythismeanstoattainherend。Shehadnothoughtofweakening，butthebetterspiritwithinherwarredagainstthelusttorepayaneyeforaneye。ItwasthenewGospelagainsttheoldLaw，andthefiercenessofthestrugglerenther。Justnow，thedoingofthekindlyactseemedsomehowtogratifynotonlyhermaternalinstincttowardserviceoflove，but，too，tomuffleforalittletherebukingvoiceofherinmostsoul。

Soshewentherwaymoreatease，morenearlycontentagainwithherselfandwithhersystemofliving。Indeed，asshewasshownintotheprivateofficeoftheingeniousinterpreterofthelaw，therewasnotahintofanytroublebeneaththebrightmaskofherbeauty，radiantlysmiling。

Harrisregardedhisclientwithanappreciativeeye，ashebowedingreeting，andinvitedhertoaseat。Thelawyerwasamanoffinephysique，withasplendidfaceofthebestSemitictype，inwhichwerelarge，dark，sparklingeyes——eyesaLombrosoperhapsmighthavejudgedrathertoocloselyset。Asamatteroffact，Harrishadsufferedaflagrantinjusticeinhisownlifefromasuspicionofwrong-doingwhichhehadnotmeritedbyanyact。

Thishadcausedhimalossofprestigeinhisprofession。Hepresentlyadoptedthewilysuggestionoftheadage，thatitiswelltohavethegameifyouhavethename，andheresolutelysethimselftothetaskofmakingasmuchmoneyaspossiblebyanymeansconvenient。MaryTurnerasaclientdelightedhisheart，bothbecauseofthenoveltyofherideasandforthemunificenceofthefeeswhichsheungrudginglypaidwithneveraprotest。

So，ashebeamedonhernow，andspokeacompliment，itwasratherthelawyerthanthemanthatwasmovedtoadmiration。

"Why，MissTurner，howcharming!"hedeclared，smiling。"Really，mydearyounglady，youlookpositivelybridal。"

"Oh，doyouthinkso？"Maryrejoined，withawhimsicalpout，assheseatedherself。Forthemomentherairbecamedistrait，butshequicklyregainedherpoise，asthelawyer，whohaddroppedbackintohischairbehindthedesk，wentonspeaking。Histonenowwascrisplybusiness-like。

"Isentyourcousin，MissAgnesLynch，thereleasewhichsheistosign，"heexplained，"whenshegetsthatmoneyfromGeneralHastings。Iwishyou\'dlookitover，whenyouhavetimetospare。It\'sallright，I\'msure，butIconfessthatIappreciateyouropinionofthings，MissTurner，evenoflegaldocuments——yes，indeed，Ido!——perhapsparticularlyoflegaldocuments。"

"Thankyou，"Marysaid，evidentlyalittlegratifiedbythefrankpraiseofthelearnedgentlemanforherabilities。"Andhaveyouheardfromthemyet？"sheinquired。

"No，"thelawyerreplied。"Igavethemuntilto-morrow。IfI

don\'thearthen，Ishallstartsuitatonce。"Thenthelawyer\'smannerbecameunusuallyblandandself-satisfiedasheopenedadrawerofthedeskandbroughtfortharatherformidable-appearingdocument，bearingamostimpressiveseal。

"Youwillbegladtoknow，"hewentonunctuously，"thatIwasentirelysuccessfulincarryingoutthatideaofyoursastotheinjunction。MydearMissTurner，"hewentonwithfloridcompliment，"Portiawasasquawkingbaby，comparedwithyou。"

"Thankyouagain，"Maryanswered，asshetookthelegalpaperwhichheheldoutstretchedtowardher。Herscarletlipswerecurvedhappily，andtheclearovalofhercheeksblossomedtoadeeperrose。Foramoment，herglanceranoverthewordsofthepage。Thenshelookedupatthelawyer，andtherewerenewlustersinthevioleteyes。

"It\'ssplendid，"shedeclared。"Didyouhavemuchtroubleingettingit？"

Harrispermittedhimselftheindulgenceofanunprofessionalchuckleofkeenestamusementbeforeheanswered。

"Why，no!"hedeclared，withreminiscentenjoymentinhismanner。

"Thatis，notreally!"Therewasanenormouscomplacencyinhisairovertheevent。"But，attheoutset，whenImadetherequest，thejudgejustnaturallynearlyfelloffthebench。

Then，IshowedhimthatDetroitcase，towhichyouhaddrawnmyattention，andtheupshotofitallwasthathegavemewhatI

wantedwithoutawhimper。Hecouldn\'thelphimself，youknow。

That\'sthelongandtheshortofit。"

Thatmysteriousdocumentwiththeimposingseal，therequestforwhichhadnearlycausedajudgetofalloffthebench，reposedsafelyinMary\'sbagwhenshe，returnedtotheapartmentafterthevisittothelawyer\'soffice。

CHAPTERX。MARKEDMONEY。

MaryhadscarcelyreceivedfromAggieanaccountofCassidy\'sthreateninginvasion，whenthemaidannouncedthatMr。Irwinhadcalled。

"Showhimin，injusttwominutes，"Marydirected。

"Who\'sthegink？"Aggiedemanded，withthatslangydictionwhichwasherhabit。

"Yououghttoknow，"Maryreturned，smilingalittle。"He\'sthelawyerretainedbyGeneralHastingsinthematterofacertainbreach-of-promisesuit。"

"Oh，youmeanyourstruly，"Aggieexclaimed，notintheleastabashedbyherforgetfulnessinanaffairthatconcernedherselfsoclosely。"Hopehe\'sbroughtthemoney。Whataboutit？"

"Leavetheroomnow，"Maryordered，crisply。"WhenIcalltoyou，comein，butbesureandleaveeverythingtome。Merelyfollowmylead。And，Agnes——beveryingenue。"

"Oh，I\'mwise——I\'mwise，"Aggienodded，asshehurriedouttowardherbedroom。"I\'llbeasquab——surestthingyouknow!"

Nextmoment，Marygaveaformalgreetingtothelawyerwhorepresentedthemansheplannedtomulcteffectively，andinvitedhimtoachairnearher，whilesheherselfretainedherplaceatthedesk，withinadrawerofwhichshehadjustlockedtheformidable-appearingdocumentreceivedfromHarris。

Irwinlostnotimeincomingtothepoint。

"Icalledinreferencetothissuit，whichMissAgnesLynchthreatenstobringagainstmyclient，GeneralHastings。"

Maryregardedtheattorneywithalevelglance，serenelyexpressionlessasfarascouldbeachievedbyeyessoclearandshining，andhervoicewascoldassherepliedwithsignificantbrusqueness。

"It\'snotathreat，Mr。Irwin。Thesuitwillbebrought。"

Thelawyerfrowned，andtherewasastridentnoteinhisvoicewhenheanswered，meetingherglancewithanuncompromisingstareofhostility。

"Yourealize，ofcourse，"hesaidfinally，"thatthisismerelyplainblackmail。"

Therewasnotthechangeofafeatureinthefaceofthewomanwholistenedtotheaccusation。Hereyessteadfastlyretainedtheircleargazeintohis；hervoicewasstillcoldlyformal，asbefore。

"Ifit\'sblackmail，Mr。Irwin，whydon\'tyouconsultthepolice？"

sheinquired，withmanifestdisdain。Maryturnedtothemaid，whonowenteredinresponsetothebellshehadsoundedaminutebefore。"Fanny，willyouaskMissLynchtocomein，please？"

Thenshefacedthelawyeragain，withanaloofnessofmannerthatwascontemptuous。"Really，Mr。Irwin，"shedrawled，"whydon\'tyoutakethismattertothepolice？"

Thereplywasutteredwithconspicuousexasperation。

"Youknowperfectlywell，"thelawyersaidbitterly，"thatGeneralHastingscannotaffordsuchpublicity。Hispositionwouldbejeopardized。"

"Oh，asforthat，"Marysuggestedevenly，andnowtherewasatraceofflippancyinherfashionofspeaking，"I\'msurethepolicewouldkeepyourcomplaintasecret。Really，youknow，Mr。

Irwin，Ithinkyouhadbettertakeyourtroublestothepolice，ratherthantome。Youwillgetmuchmoresympathyfromthem。"

Thelawyersprangup，withanairofsuddendetermination。

"Verywell，Iwillthen，"hedeclared，sternly。"Iwill!"

Mary，fromhervantagepointatthedeskacrossfromhim，smiledasmilethatwouldhavebeenveryengagingtoanymanundermorefavorablecircumstances，andshepushedinhisdirectionthetelephonethatstoodthere。

"3100，Spring，"sheremarked，encouragingly，"willbringanofficeralmostimmediately。"Sheleanedbackinherchair，andsurveyedthebaffledmanamusedly。

Thelawyerwasfuriousoverthefailureofhisefforttointimidatethisextraordinarilyself-possessedyoungwoman，whomadeamockofhiseverythrust。Buthewasbynomeansattheendofhisresources。

"Nevertheless，"herejoined，"youknowperfectlywellthatGeneralHastingsneverpromisedtomarrythisgirl。Youknow——"HebrokeoffasAggieenteredthedrawing-room，Now，thegirlwasdemureinseemingalmostbeyondbelief，achildishcreature，veryfairanddainty，guilelesssurely，withthoseuntroubledeyesofblue，thosesoftlycurvinglipsofwarmestredandthemoredelicatebloomintheroundedcheeks。

Therewerethecharmsofinnocenceandsimplicityinthemannerofherasshestoppedjustwithinthedoorway，whencesheregardedMarywithatimid，pleadinggaze，herslenderlittleformpoisedlightlyasifforflight"Didyouwantme，dear？"sheasked。Therewassomethinghalf-plaintiveinthemodulatedcadencesofthequery。

"Agnes，"Maryansweredaffectionately，"thisisMr。Irwin，whohascometoseeyouinbehalfofGeneralHastings。"

"Oh!"thegirlmurmured，hervoicequiveringalittle，asthelawyer，afterashortnod，droppedagainintohisseat；"oh，I\'msofrightened!"Shehurried，fluttering，toalowstoolbehindthedesk，besideMary\'schair，andthereshesankdown，droopingslightly，andcatchingholdofoneofMary\'shandsasifinmutepleadingforprotectionagainstthefearthatbesetherchastesoul。

"Nonsense!"Maryexclaimed，soothingly。"There\'sreallynothingatalltobefrightenedabout，mydearchild。"Hervoicewasthatwithwhichoneseekstocajoleaterrifiedinfant。"Youmustn\'tbeafraid，Agnes。Mr。IrwinsaysthatGeneralHastingsdidnotpromisetomarryyou。Ofcourse，youunderstand，mydear，thatundernocircumstancesmustyousayanythingthatisn\'tstrictlytrue，andthat，ifhedidnotpromisetomarryyou，youhavenocase——noneatall。Now，Agnes，tellme:didGeneralHastingspromisetomarryyou？"

"Oh，yes——oh，yes，indeed!"Aggiecried，falteringly。"AndIwishhewould。He\'ssuchadelightfuloldgentleman!"Asshespoke，thegirlletgoMary\'shandandclaspedherowntogetherecstatically。

Thelegalrepresentativeofthedelightfuloldgentlemanscowleddisgustedlyatthisoutburst。Hisvoicewasportentous，asheputaquestion。

"Wasthatpromisemadeinwriting？"

"No，"Aggieanswered，gushingly。"Butallhisletterswereinwriting，youknow。Suchwonderfulletters!"Sheraisedherblueeyestowardtheceilinginanaiverapture。"Sotender，andso——er——interesting!"Somehow，theinflectiononthelastworddidnotaltogethersuggesttheingenuous。

"Yes，yes，Idaresay，"Irwinagreed，hastily，withsomeevidencesofchagrin。Hehadnointentionofdwellingonthatfeatureoftheletters，concerningwhichhehadnodoubtwhatsoever，sinceheknewtheamorousGeneralverywellindeed。

Theywouldbeinteresting，beyondshadowofquestioning，horriblyinteresting。Suchwastheconfessedopinionoftheswainhimselfwhohadwrittentheminhisfolly——horriblyinterestingtoallthereadingpublicofthecountry，sincetheGeneralwasaconspicuousfigure。

Maryintervenedwithasuavitythatinfuriatedthelawyeralmostbeyondendurance。

"Butyou\'requitesure，Agnes，"shequestionedgently，"thatGeneralHastingsdidpromisetomarryyou？"Thecandorofhermannerwasperfect。

AndtheanswerofAggiewasgivenwithalikeconvincingemphasis。

"Oh，yes!"shedeclared，tensely。"Why，Iwouldsweartoit。"

Thelimpideyes，soappealingintheirsoftlusters，wentfirsttoMary，thengazedtrustinglyintothoseoftheroutedattorney。

"Yousee，Mr。Irwin，shewouldsweartothat，"emphasizedMary。

"We\'rebeaten，"heconfessed，dejectedly，turninghisglancetowardMary，whom，plainly，heregardedashisrealadversaryinthecombatonhisclient\'sbehalf。"I\'mgoingtobequitefrankwithyou，MissTurner，quitefrank，"hestatedwithmoregeniality，thoughwithaverycrestfallenair。Somehow，indeed，therewasjustashadetoomuchofthecrestfalleninthefashionofhisutterance，andthewomanwhomheaddressedwatchedwarilyashecontinued。"Wecan\'taffordanyscandal，sowe\'regoingtosettleatyourownterms。"Hepausedexpectantly，butMaryofferednocomment；onlymaintainedheralertscrutinyoftheman。Thelawyer，therefore，leanedforwardwithasemblanceoffrankeagerness。Instantly，Aggiehadbecomeagogwithgreedilyblissfulanticipations，andsheutteredaslightejaculationofjoy；butIrwinpaidnoheedtoher。Hewasoccupiedintakingfromhispocketathickbill-case，andfromthispresentlyasheafofbanknotes，whichhelaidonthedeskbeforeMary，withalittlelaughofdiscomfitureoverhavingbeenbeateninthecontest。

Ashedidso，Aggiethrustforthanavaricioushand，butitwascaughtandheldbyMarybeforeitreachedabovethetopofthedesk，andtheavariciousgesturepassedunobservedbytheattorney。

"Wecan\'tfightwhereladiesareconcerned，"hewenton，assuming，asbesthemightcontrive，achivalroustone。"So，ifyouwilljusthandoverGeneralHastings\'letters，why，here\'syourmoney。"

Muchtothespeaker\'ssurprise，therefollowedanintervalofsilence，andhispuzzlementshowedintheknittingofhisbrows。

"Youhavetheletters，haven\'tyou？"hedemanded，abruptly。

Aggiecoylytookathickbundlefromitsrestingplaceonherroundedbosom。

"Theyneverleaveme，"shemurmured，withdulcetpassion。Therewasinhervoiceasuggestionofdesolation——adesolationthatwastheblightingeffectoflettingthecherishedmissivesgofromher。

"Well，theycanleaveyounow，allright，"thelawyerremarkedunsympathetically，butwithreturningcheerfulness，sincehesawtheendofhisquestinvisibleformbeforehim。Hereachedquicklyforwardforthepacket，whichAggieextendedwillinglyenough。ButitwasMarywho，withaswiftmovement，caughtandheldit。

"Notquiteyet，Mr。Irwin，I\'mafraid，"shesaid，calmly。

Thelawyerbarelysuppressedaviolentejaculationofannoyance。

"Butthere\'sthemoneywaitingforyou，"heprotested，indignantly。

TherejoinderfromMarywasspokenwithgreatdeliberation，yetwithanoteofdeterminationthatcausedaquickandacuteanxietytotheGeneral\'srepresentative。

"Ithink，"Maryexplainedtranquilly，"thatyouhadbetterseeourlawyer，Mr。Harris，inreferencetothis。Wewomenknownothingofsuchdetailsofbusinesssettlement。"

"Oh，there\'snoneedforallthatformality，"Irwinurged，withagreatappearanceofblandfriendliness。

"Justthesame，"Marypersisted，unimpressed，"I\'mquitesureyouwouldbetterseeMr。Harrisfirst。"Therewasacadenceofinsistenceinhervoicethatassuredthelawyerastothefutilityoffurtherpretenseonhispart。

"Oh，Isee，"hesaiddisagreeably，withafrowntoindicatehiscompletesagacityinthepremises。

"Ithoughtyouwould，Mr。Irwin，"Maryreturned，andnowshesmiledinakindlymanner，which，nevertheless，gavenopleasuretothechagrinedmanbeforeher。Asherose，shewentoncrisply:"Ifyou\'lltakethemoneytoMr。Harris，MissLynchwillmeetyouinhisofficeatfouro\'clockthisafternoon，and，whenhersuitfordamagesforbreachofpromisehasbeenlegallysettledoutofcourt，youwillgettheletters……

Good-afternoon，Mr。Irwin。"

Thelawyermadeahurriedbowwhichtookinbothofthewomen，andwalkedquicklytowardthedoor。ButhewasarrestedbeforehereacheditbythevoiceofMary，speakingagain，stillinthatimperturbableevennesswhichsoraspedhisnerves，forallitsmellowresonance。Butthistimetherewasasting，ofthesharpest，inthewordsthemselves。

"Oh，youforgotyourmarkedmoney，Mr。Irwin，"Marysaid。

Thelawyerwheeled，andstoodstaringatthespeakerwithacertainsheepishnessofexpressionthatborewitnesstothecompletenessofhisdiscomfiture。Withoutaword，afteralongmomentinwhichheperceivedintentlythedelicate，yetsubtlyenergetic，lovelinessofthisslenderwoman，hewalkedbacktothedesk，pickedupthemoney，andrestoredittothebill-case。

Thisdone，atlasthespoke，withanewrespectinhisvoice，aquizzicalsmileonhisratherthinlips。

"Youngwoman，"hesaidemphatically，"yououghttohavebeenalawyer。"Andwiththatlaudatoryconfessionofherskill，hefinallytookhisdeparture，whileMarysmiledinatriumphshewasatnopainstoconceal，andAggiesatgapingastonishmentoverthesurprisingturnofevents。

Itwasthelattervolatilepersonwhoendedthesilencethatfollowedonthelawyer\'sgoing。

"You\'vedarnnearbrokemyheart，"shecried，bouncingupviolently，"lettingallthatmoneygooutofthehouse……Say，howdidyouknowitwasmarked？"

"Ididn\'t，"Maryreplied，blandly；"butitwasaprettygoodguess，wasn\'tit？Couldn\'tyouseethatallhewantedwastogettheletters，andhaveustakethemarkedmoney？Then，mysimpleyoungfriend，wewouldhavebeenarrestedveryneatlyindeed——forblackmail。"

Aggie\'sinnocenteyesroundedinanamazedconsternation，whichwasnotatallassumed。

"Gee!"shecried。"Thatwouldhavebeenfierce!Andnow？"shequestioned，apprehensively。

Mary\'sanswerrepudiatedanypossibilityoffear。

"Andnow，"sheexplainedcontentedly，"hereallywillgotoourlawyer。There，hewillpayoverthatsamemarkedmoney。Then，hewillgetthelettershewantssomuch。And，justbecauseit\'sastrictlybusinesstransactionbetweentwolawyers，witheverythingdoneaccordingtolegalethics——"

"What\'slegalethics？"Aggiedemanded，impetuously。"Theysoundsometasty!"Withthecomment，shedroppedweaklyintoachair。

Marylaughedincare-freeenjoyment，aswellshemightafterwinningthevictoryinsuchabattleofwits。

"Oh，"shesaid，happily，"youjustgetitlegally，andyougettwiceasmuch!"

"Andit\'sactuallythesameoldgame!"Aggiemused。Shewasdoingherbesttogetaclearunderstandingofthematter，thoughtoheritwasallamysterymostesoteric。

Maryreviewedthecasesuccinctlyfortheother\'senlightenment。

"Yes，it\'sthesamegameprecisely，"sheaffirmed。"Ashamelessoldrouemakeslovetoyou，andhewritesyouastackofsillyletters。"

Thepoutinglipsofthelistenertookonapatheticdroop，andhervoicequiveredasshespokewithaneffectivesemblanceofvirginalterror。

"Hemighthaveruinedmylife!"

Marycontinuedwithoutgivingmuchattentiontothesehistrionics。

"Ifyouhadaskedhimforallthismoneyforthereturnofhisletters，itwouldhavebeenblackmail，andwe\'dhavegonetojailinallhumanprobability。Butwedidnosuchthing——no，indeed!

Whatwedidwasn\'tanythinglikethatintheeyesofthelaw。

Whatwedidwasmerelytohaveyourlawyertakestepstowardasuitfordamagesforbreachofpromiseofmarriageforthesumoftenthousanddollars。Then，hislawyerappearsinbehalfofGeneralHastings，andtherefollowanumberofconferencesbetweenthelegalrepresentativesoftheopposingparties。Bymeansoftheseconferences，thetwolegalgentlemenrunupveryrespectablebillsofexpenses。Intheend，wegetourtenthousanddollars，andtheflightyoldGeneralgetsbackhisletters……Mydear，"Maryconcludedvaingloriously，"we\'reinsidethelaw，andsowe\'reperfectlysafe。Andthereyouare!"

CHAPTERXI。THETHIEF。

Maryremainedinjoyousspiritsafterhervictoriousmatchingofbrainsagainstalawyerofhighstandinginhisprofession。Forthetimebeing，consciencewasmutedbygratifiedambition。Herthoughtsjustthenwerefarfromthemiseriesofthepast，withtheireviltrainofconsequencesinthepresent。Butthatpastwassoontoberecalledtoherwithavividnessmostterrible。

Shehadenteredthetelephone-booth，whichshehadcausedtobeinstalledoutofanextraclosetofherbedroomforthesakeofgreaterprivacyonoccasion，anditwasduringherabsencefromthedrawing-roomthatGarsonagaincameintotheapartment，seekingher。OnbeingtoldbyAggieastoMary\'swhereabouts，hesatdowntoawaitherreturn，listeningwithoutmuchinteresttothechatteroftheadventuress……Itwasjustthenthatthemaidappeared。

"There\'sagirlwantstoseeMissTurner，"sheexplained。

TheirrepressibleAggieputonhermostfinicallyelegantair。

"Hassheacard？"sheinquiredhaughtily，whilethemaidtitteredappreciation。

"No，"wastheanswer。"Butshesaysit\'simportant。Iguessthepoorthing\'sinhardluck，fromthelookofher，"thekindlyFannieadded。

"Oh，thenshe\'llbewelcome，ofcourse，"Aggiedeclared，andGarsonnoddedinacquiescence。"Tellhertocomeinandwait，Fannie。MissTurnerwillbehererightaway。"SheturnedtoGarsonasthemaidlefttheroom。"Marysureisaneasyboob，"

sheremarked，cheerfully。"Blesshersoftheart!"

Acuriouslygentlesmileofappreciationsoftenedtheimmobilityoftheforger\'sfaceasheagainnoddedassent。

"WemightjustaswellpipeofftheskirtbeforeMarygetshere，"

Aggiesuggested，witheagerness。

Aminutelater，agirlperhapstwentyyearsofagesteppedjustwithinthedoorway，andstoodtherewitheyesdowncast，afteroneswift，furtiveglanceabouther。Herwholeappearancewasthatofdejection。Hersoiledblackgown，thecringingposture，thepallorofherface，proclaimedtheabjectmiseryofherstate。

Aggie，whowasnotexuberantinhersympathiesforanyoneotherthanherself，addressedthenewcomerwithapatronizinginflection，modulatedinherbestmanner。

"Won\'tyoucomein，please？"sherequested。

Theshrinkinggirlshotanotherveiledlookinthedirectionofthespeaker。

"AreyouMissTurner？"sheasked，inavoicebrokenbynervousdismay。

"Really，Iamverysorry，"Aggiereplied，primly；"butIamonlyhercousin，MissAgnesLynch。ButMissTurnerislikelytobebackanyminutenow。"

"CanIwait？"camethetimidquestion。

"Certainly，"Aggieanswered，hospitably。"Pleasesitdown。"

Asthegirlobedientlysankdownonthenearestchair，Garsonaddressedhersharply，sothatthevisitorstarteduneasilyattheunexpectedsound。

"Youdon\'tknowMissTurner？"

"No，"camethefaintreply。

"Then，whatdoyouwanttoseeherabout？"

Therewasabriefpausebeforethegirlcouldpluckupcourageenoughforananswer。Then，itwasspokenconfusedly，almostinawhisper。

"Sheoncehelpedagirlfriendofmine，andIthought——I

thought——"

"Youthoughtshemighthelpyou，"Garsoninterrupted。

ButAggie，too，possessedsomeperceptivepowers，despitethefactthatshepreferredtousethemlittleinordinaryaffairs。

"Youhavebeeninstir——prison，Imean。"Shehastilycorrectedthelapseintounderworldslang。

Cameadistressedmutteringofassentfromthegirl。

"Howsad!"Aggieremarked，inavoiceofshockedpityforonesoinconceivablyunfortunate。"Howvery，verysad!"

ThisingenuousmethodofdiversionwasputtoanendbytheentranceofMary，whostoppedshortonseeingthelimpfigurehuddledinthechair。

"Avisitor，Agnes？"sheinquired。

Atthesoundofhervoice，andbeforeAggiecouldhitonafittinglyelegantformofreply，thegirllookedup。Andnow，forthefirsttime，shespokewithsomedegreeofenergy，albeittherewasasinisterundertoneinthehuskyvoice。

"You\'reMissTurner？"shequestioned。

"Yes，"Marysaid，simply。Herwordsrangkindly；andshesmiledencouragement。

Agaspburstfromthewhitelipsofthegirl，andshecoweredasonestrickenphysically。

"MaryTurner!Oh，myGod!I——"Shehidherfacewithinherarmsandsatbentuntilherheadrestedonherkneesinanabasementofmisery。

Vaguelystartledbythehystericaloutburstfromthegirl，Mary\'simmediatethoughtwasthatherewasapitifulinstanceofonesufferingfromstarvation。

"Joe，"shedirectedrapidly，"haveFanniebringaglassofmilkwithaneggandalittlebrandyinit，rightaway。"

Thegirlinthechairwasshakingsoundlesslyunderthestressofheremotions。Afewdisjointedphrasesfellfromherquiveringlips。

"Ididn\'tknow——oh，Icouldn\'t!"

"Don\'ttrytotalkjustnow，"Marywarned，reassuringly。"Waituntilyou\'vehadsomethingtoeat。"

Aggie，whohadobserveddevelopmentsclosely，nowliftedhervoiceintardylamentationsoverherownstupidity。Therewasnoaffectationofthefineladyinherself-reproach。

"Why，thepoorgawk\'shungry!"sheexclaimed!"AndInevergotthedopeonher。Ain\'tIthesimp!"

Thegirlregainedadegreeofself-control，andshowedsomethingofforlorndignity。

"Yes，"shesaiddully，"I\'mstarving。"

Maryregardedtheafflictedcreaturewiththatsympathybornonlyofexperience。

"Yes，"shesaidsoftly，"Iunderstand。"ThenshespoketoAggie。

"Takehertomyroom，andletherrestthereforawhile。Haveherdrinktheeggandmilkslowly，andthenliedownforafewminutesanyhow。"

Aggieobeyedwithanairofbustlingactivity。

"Sure，Iwill!"shedeclared。Shewenttothegirlandhelpedhertostandup。"We\'llfixyououtallright，"shesaid，comfortingly。"Comealongwithme……Hungry!Gee，butthat\'stough!"

Halfanhourafterward，whileMarywasatherdesk，givingpartofherattentiontoJoeGarson，whosatnear，andparttoaratherformidablepileofneatlyarrangedpapers，Aggiereportedwithhercharge，who，thoughstillshamblingofgait，andstooping，showedbysomefaintcolorinherfaceandanincreasedsteadinessofbearingthatthefoodhadalreadystrengthenedhermuch。

"Shewouldcome，"Aggieexplained。"Ithoughtsheoughttorestforawhilelongeranyhow。"Shehalf-shovedthegirlintoachairoppositethedesk，inanabsurdtravestyonthematernalmanner。

"I\'mallright，Itellyou，"camethequerulousprotest。

Whereupon，Aggiegaveovertheuncongenialtaskofmothering，andsettledherselfcomfortablyinachair，withherlegsmerelycrossedasacompromisebetweeneaseandpropriety。

"Areyouquitesure？"Marysaidtothegirl。Andthen，astheothernoddedinassent，shespokewithacompellingkindliness。

"Thenyoumusttellusallaboutit——thistroubleofyours，youknow。Whatisyourname？"

Onceagainthegirlhadrecoursetotheswift，searching，furtiveglance，buthervoicewascolorlessasshereplied，listlessly:

"HelenMorris。"

Maryregardedthegirlwithanexpressionthatwasinscrutablewhenshespokeagain。

"Idon\'thavetoaskifyouhavebeeninprison，"shesaidgravely。"Yourfaceshowsit。"

"I——Icameout——threemonthsago，"wasthehaltingadmission。

Marywatchedtheshrinkingfigurereflectivelyforalongminutebeforeshespokeagain。Thentherewasadeeperresonanceinhervoice。

"Andyou\'dmadeupyourmindtogostraight？"

"Yes。"Thewordwasawhisper。

"Youweregoingtodowhatthechaplainhadtoldyou，"Marywentoninavoicevibrantwithvariedemotions。"Youweregoingtostartalloveragain，weren\'tyou？Youweregoingtobeginanewlife，weren\'tyou？"Thebentheadofthegirlbentstilllowerinassent。TherecameacynicalnoteintoMary\'sutterancenow。

"Itdoesn\'tworkverywell，doesit？"sheasked，bitterly。

Thegirlgavesullenagreement。

"No，"shesaiddully；"I\'mwhipped。"

Mary\'smannerchangedontheinstant。Shespokecheerfullyforthefirsttime。

"Well，then，"shequestioned，"howwouldyouliketoworkwithus？"

Thegirllookedupforasecondwithanotherofherfleeting，stealthyglances。

"You——youmeanthat——？"

Maryexplainedherintentioninthematterveryexplicitly。Hervoicegrewboastful。

"Ourkindofworkpayswellwhenyouknowhow。Lookatus。"

Aggiewelcomedtheopportunityforspeech，toolongdelayed。

"HatsfromJoseph\'s，gownsfromLucile\'s，andcrackedicefromTiffany\'s。Butitain\'tladyliketowearit，"sheconcludedwithareproachfulglanceathermentor。

Marydisregardedthefrivolousinterruption，andwentonspeakingtothegirl，andnowtherewassomethingpleasantlycajolinginhermanner。

"SupposeIshouldstakeyouforthepresent，andputyouinwithagoodcrowd。Allyouwouldhavetodowouldbetoansweradvertisementsforservantgirls。Iwillseethatyouhavethebestofreferences。Then，whenyougetinwiththerightpeople，youwillopenthefrontdoorsomenightandletinthegang。Ofcourse，youwillmakeaget-awaywhentheydo，andgetyourbitaswell。"

Thereflashedstillanotheroftheswift，slyglances，andthelipsofthegirlpartedasifshewouldspeak。Butshedidnot；

only，herheadsaggedevenloweronherbreast，andtheshrunkenformgrewyetmoreshrunken。Mary，watchingclosely，sawthesesigns，andinthesameinstantachangecameoverher。Wherebeforetherehadbeenanunderlyingsuggestionofhardness，therewasnowawomanlywarmthofgenuinesympathy。

"Itdoesn\'tsuityou？"shesaid，verysoftly。"Good!Iwasinhopesitwouldn\'t。So，here\'sanotherplan。"Hervoicehadbecomeverywinning。"SupposeyoucouldgoWest——someplacewhereyouwouldhaveafairchance，withmoneyenoughsoyoucouldlivelikeahumanbeingtillyougotastart？"

Therecameatensingoftherelaxedform，andtheheadliftedalittlesothatthegirlcouldlookatherquestioner。And，thistime，theglance，thoughofthebriefest，waslessfurtive。

"Iwillgiveyouthatchance，"Marysaidsimply，"ifyoureallywantit。"

Thatspeechwaslikeacurrentofstrengthtothewretchedgirl。

Shesatsuddenlyerect，andherwordscameeagerly。

"Oh，Ido!"Andnowherhungrygazeremainedfastonthefaceofthewomanwhoofferedhersalvation。

Marysprangupandmovedasteptowardthegirlwhocontinuedtostareather，fascinated。Shewasnowallwholesome。Thememoryofherownwrongssurgedinherduringthismomentonlytomakehermoreappreciativeoftheblessednessofseemlylife。Shewasmovedtoadivinecompassionoverthiswaifforwhomshemightproveabeneficentprovidence。Therewasprofoundconvictionintheemphasiswithwhichshespokeherwarning。

"ThenIhavejustonethingtosaytoyoufirst。Ifyouaregoingtolivestraight，startstraight，andthengothroughwithit。Doyouknowwhatthatmeans？"

"Youmean，keepstraightallthetime？"Thegirlspokewithaforcedrawnfromtheother\'sstrength。

"Imeanmorethanthat，"Marywentonearnestly。"Imean，forgetthatyouwereeverinprison。Idon\'tknowwhatyouhavedone——I

don\'tthinkIcare。Butwhateveritwas，youhavepaidforit——aprettybigprice，too。"Intotheselastwordstherecreptthepathosofonewhoknew。Thesympathyofitstirredthelistenertofearfulmemories。

"Ihave，Ihave!"Thethinvoicebroke，wailing。

"Well，then，"Marywenton，"justbeginalloveragain，andbesureyoustandupforyourrights。Don\'tletthemmakeyoupayasecondtime。Gowherenooneknowsyou，anddon\'ttellthefirstpeoplewhoarekindtoyouthatyouhavebeencrooked。Iftheythinkyouarestraight，why，beit。Thennobodywillhaveanyrighttocomplain。"Hertonegrewsuddenlypleading。"Willyoupromisemethis？"

"Yes，Ipromise，"cametheanswer，verygravely，quickenedwithhope。

"Good!"Maryexclaimed，withasmileofapproval。"Waitaminute，"sheadded，andlefttheroom。

"Huh!Prettysoftforsomepeople，"AggieremarkedtoGarson，withasniff。Shefeltnoalarmlestshewoundthesensibilitiesofthegirl。Sheherselfhadneverletdelicacyinterferebetweenherselfandmoney。Itwasreallystrangerthattheforger，whopossessedamoresympatheticnature，didnotscrupletospeakanassentopenly。Somehow，hefeltaninexplicableprejudiceagainstthisabjectrecipientofMary\'sbounty，thoughnotfortheworldwouldhehavecheckedthegenerousimpulseonthepartofthewomanhesorevered。Itwashisinstinctonherbehalfthatmadehimnowvaguelyuneasy，asifhesensedsomemaligninfluenceagainsthertherepresentwiththem。

Maryreturnedsoon。Inherhandshecarriedarollofbills。

Shewenttothegirlandheldoutthemoney。Hervoicewasbusiness-likenow，butverykind。

"Takethis。ItwillpayyourfareWest，andkeepyouquiteawhileifyouarecareful。"