"Well, you're a brick, little girl," he said, "and I like your spirit, but, after all, why can't you put your pride in your pocket, and let me lend you a few thousands? You needn't borrow much--not enough to keep a carriage--but you might at least take a little just to show you aren't proud--just to show you'll be friends. It seems a downright shame that I should have money to throw away, and you should be starting out to pinch and scrape on fifteen dollars a week. Fifteen dollars a week! Good Lord, what are we coming to?" She was not proud, and she wanted to be friends, but she shook her head obstinately, though she was still smiling. "Not now--not while I can help it--but if I ever get in trouble--in real trouble--I'll remember your offer. If the children fall ill or I lose my place, I'll come to you in a minute." "Honour bright? It's a promise?" "It's a promise." "And you'll let me keep an eye on you?" She laughed with the natural gaiety which he found so delightful. "You may keep two eyes on me if you will!" He had already reached the door when, turning suddenly, he said with heavy gravity: "You don't mind my asking what you're going to do about George, do you? "No, I don't mind. As soon as I can afford it, I shall get my freedom, but everything costs, you know, even justice." "I could help you there, couldn't I?" From the gratitude in her eyes he read her horror of the marriage which still bound her. "You could--and, oh, if you would, I'd never, never forget it," she answered. Then they parted, and he went out into the cold, with a strange warmth like the fire of youth at his heart, while she ran eagerly up the uncarpeted stairs to the nursery. The trunks were packed, the boxes were nailed down, and the two children were playing shipwreck while they ate a supper of bread and milk at a table made from the bare top of a packing-case. Several days before the nurse had left without warning, and Miss Polly sat now, in hat and mantle, on one of the little beds which would be taken down the next day and sent over to the apartment on the West Side.