第36章

“MarcusISgoingaway，afterall，Mac，“saidTrinatoherhusbandthatdayashecameoutofhis“Parlors“andsatdowntothelunchofsausages，mashedpotatoes，andchocolateinthesitting-room。

“Huh？“saidthedentist，alittleconfused。“Who’sgoingaway？Schoulergoingaway？Why’sSchoulergoingaway？“

Trinaexplained。“Oh！“growledMcTeague，behindhisthickmustache，“hecangofarbeforeI’LLstophim。“

“And，say，Mac，“continuedTrina，pouringthechocolate，“whatdoyouthink？Mammawantsme——wantsustosendherfiftydollars。Shesaysthey’rehardup。“

“Well，“saidthedentist，afteramoment，“well，Iguesswecansendit，can’twe？“

“Oh，that’seasytosay，“complainedTrina，herlittlechinintheair，hersmallpalelipspursed。“Iwonderifmammathinkswe’remillionaires？“

“Trina，you’regettingtoberegularstingy，“mutteredMcTeague。“You’regettingworseandworseeveryday。“

“Butfiftydollarsisfiftydollars，Mac。Justthinkhowlongittakesyoutoearnfiftydollars。Fiftydollars！

That’stwomonthsofourinterest。“

“Well，“saidMcTeague，easily，hismouthfullofmashedpotato，“yougotalotsavedup。“

Uponeveryreferencetothatlittlehoardinthebrassmatch-safeandchamois-skinbagatthebottomofhertrunk，Trinabridledontheinstant。

“Don’tTALKthatway，Mac。’Alotofmoney。’Whatdoyoucallalotofmoney？Idon’tbelieveI’vegotfiftydollarssaved。“

“Hoh！“exclaimedMcTeague。“Hoh！IguessyougotnearerahundredAN’fifty。That’swhatIguessYOUgot。“

“I’veNOT，I’veNOT，“declaredTrina，“andyouknowI’venot。Iwishmammahadn’taskedmeforanymoney。Whycan’tshebealittlemoreeconomical？Imanageallright。No，no，Ican’tpossiblyaffordtosendherfifty。“

“Oh，pshaw！WhatWILLyoudo，then？“grumbledherhusband。

“I’llsendhertwenty-fivethismonth，andtellherI’llsendtherestassoonasIcanaffordit。“

“Trina，you’rearegularlittlemiser，“saidMcTeague。

“Idon’tcare，“answeredTrina，beginningtolaugh。“I

guessIam，butIcan’thelpit，andit’sagoodfault。“

Trinaputoffsendingthismoneyforacoupleofweeks，andhermothermadenomentionofitinhernextletter。“Oh，I

guessifshewantsitsobad，“saidTrina，“she’llspeakaboutitagain。“Sosheagainpostponedthesendingofit。

Daybydaysheputitoff。Whenhermotheraskedherforitasecondtime，itseemedharderthaneverforTrinatopartwithevenhalfthesumrequested。Sheansweredhermother，tellingherthattheywereveryhardupthemselvesforthatmonth，butthatshewouldsenddowntheamountinafewweeks。

“I’lltellyouwhatwe’lldo，Mac，“shesaidtoherhusband，“yousendhalfandI’llsendhalf；we’llsendtwenty-fivedollarsaltogether。Twelveandahalfapiece。That’sanidea。Howwillthatdo？“

“Sure，sure，“McTeaguehadanswered，givin