"I don’t care. Just enough to help--mother. And I’m real quick to learn. I could----” "There isn’t anything to learn, my dear," said the red-haired one. With an astounding change of manner, she suddenly became confidential and garrulous. "You see, it’s for my daughter-in-law, Mrs. Geraldine. She must have some one with her. The doctor says she’s not to be left alone. She’s been through a dreadful experience. She lost her sweet little baby six weeks ago. Isn’t that dreadful?" Angelica agreed briefly that it was. "Well, I want some one just to be about with her, you know. No work; it’s really an ideal life. I said to my husband I’d absolutely love to do it myself, if I had the time. She’s the dearest soul--a little depressed now, naturally. How much would you expect?" "What do you want to give?" "You see, it has to come out of my own pocket. I’m doing it for her, to make her happy. I’ll pay, but she’ll have the benefit; and of course I’m not able to--I’ll give you twenty dollars." "A week?" "A month." Angelica was quiet for a moment. It was perfectly apparent to her that cheapness was her only asset; that if she didn’t come cheap and very cheap, she wouldn’t be considered. She reflected, and grew more and more convinced that here was a stepping-stone. "All right," she said. "That’s not much pay, but I’ll take it." "And what about references?" asked Mrs. Russell. This was an attempt to regain a lost advantage. If she was getting Angelica cheap, she must make her feel and see that she was cheap. "I haven’t any." "Oh, but you must have SOME!" said Mrs. Russell. She was determined that Angelica should give her references, even if they were obviously false ones. She knew she would be questioned in regard to this, and she preferred to say that she had been deceived. That would absolve her from blame. It would even add to her merit, showing her to be trusting and kindly. "The rector of your church, perhaps?" she suggested. "Haven’t any church." "Didn’t you say that you’d worked for a milliner?" "Wouldn’t she----” "Not on your life! My Lord! I don’t know what she _wouldn’t_ say about me! She hated the sight of me. Jealous! No, there’s no one; but if you want to know more about me, you could go and see my mother." "I might do that," said Mrs. Russell slowly. It was a good idea; she would certainly be praised for going to all this trouble in investigating the character of Polly’s companion. "Yes, I will. I’ll go down to the city and fetch you to-morrow morning. And be ready for me early, won’t you?--for I have so very little time." She went to the door, followed by Angelica; then out into the hall, where the patient row still sat, waiting for the turns she had promised them. "I’m sorry," she told them, with an affable smile, "but the place is taken. Good morning!"