"I am sure Mr. MacNab wouldn't like," she said. And then she thought of how her father would soon come home and miss her, and have to be told, when they next met, that she had been to the theatre over in New York with the girl who brought them vegetables thrice a week. She seemed quite to have made up her mind, presently. She withdrew her hand from Josie's with a good deal of placid force. "No, Josie, I can't," she said. "Yes, you _can_!" was the fervid reply. "Yes, you just _shall_, Miss Twining; now _there_! I ain't goin' t' let you _off_! When I get my mind set right _onto_ anything, I'm as stubb'n as ever I can _be_! An' I'm sure you'd _like_ to come. There ain't no doubt of 't--not one single _grain_!" Josie was laughing while she thus spoke, and had again caught Claire's unwilling hand with more of entreaty than boldness. "What makes you sure?" Claire asked. She smiled now, though the smile was sad. Josie's laughter became a high treble ripple. She put both feet, visible beneath her short skirt, suddenly very close together, and curved her lithe body in an abrupt burlesque bow. The trick was graceful, though vulgar; it savored of the cheaper variety entertainments, where Josie had no doubt found it. She still held Claire's hand, and she was looking straight into the eyes of her companion with her own dark, brisk eyes. "What _makes_ me sure you'd like to go?" she said. "Why, sakes alive, Miss Twining, I can see the need of a little fun oozin' right out of your _face_--now, 'pon my word and sacred honor I just _can_! Oh, pshaw! We'll be home early 'nough. It won't be _much_ more'n quarter past 'leven, I guess. B'sides, who'll _know_? 'Tain't anybody's business but _ours_." 'Father would know. It would be his business,' Claire thought. But she did not answer aloud, as yet. She permitted Josie to retain her hand, while she turned and gave another glance toward the city across the river. The rapid darkness had thickened. Where New York had lain, dim as a mirage, hundreds of lights had clustered; their yellow galaxy more than rivaled the pale specks of fire now crowding with silent speed into the heavens domed so remotely above them. She faced Josie again. She trembled, though imperceptibly. Drooping her eyes, at first, she then raised them. "Well," she said, "I will let you persuade me. I will go with you, Josie."