"Truly you have been fortunate," said Mrs. Rollins, with new cheerfulness. "It has come in good time, too, for our rent will fall due on Saturday." "Then, mother, you had better take this money, and take care of it till it is wanted." Just as Mrs. Rollins was placing the purse in a bureau drawer Mrs. Marlow, who lived on the floor below, opened the door and entered the room without knocking. "Excuse my comin' in without knockin'," she said. "I didn't think." Mrs. Marlow was in the habit of moving about in a noiseless, stealthy way, and was not a favorite with Rupert or his mother. They felt that there was something suspicious and underhanded about her. "What can I do for you, Mrs. Marlow?" asked Mrs. Rollins, civilly. "I'm all out of matches. Can you give me a few?" "Certainly." Mrs. Marlow took the matches, but did not go. She sank into a chair and grew social. "And how is the times affectin' you, Mrs. Rollins?" she asked. "Rupert is out of employment. All he has to depend upon are odd jobs." Mrs. Marlow darted a curious glance at the bureau drawer in which her neighbor had deposited the purse. "It don't make so much difference as long as a body has got money to fall back upon," she said. "That is not my condition." "I'm sorry for it. I surmised you might have money ahead. You're better off than I am, for I have no boy to work for me." "If I am better off than anybody," said Mrs. Rollins, with a faint smile, "I suppose I ought not to complain." "My! What a nice lot of provisions!" exclaimed Mrs. Marlow, espying for the first time the open basket. "Sure, you buy things by the quantity." "That was a present to Rupert from a rich gentleman whose acquaintance he made." "It's a nice thing to have rich friends. Rupert, would you mind tellin' the gentleman that you know a poor widder that would be thankful for his kind assistance?" "I don't feel well enough acquainted with Mr. Sylvester for that," said Rupert, annoyed. "Sure his name is Sylvester, is it? And where does he live?" "In Harlem." "And what's the street and number?" "I should prefer not to tell you." "Ah, it's selfish you are. You want to keep him to yourself." "I don't expect to see him again." "Then why do you mind tellin' me where he lives?" "I don't want to annoy him." Mrs. Marlow turned her attention to his mother. "Would you mind givin' me a small bit of meat for my supper, you've got so much?" she said. Her request was complied with, and she at length left the room. "What a disagreeable woman!" exclaimed Rupert. "She was prying about all the time she was here." "Yes. I don't enjoy her company much, but I can't order her out of the room." They had a nice supper, which Mrs. Rollins and Grace enjoyed. Rupert sat down at the table, but confined himself to a cup of tea, having already supped at Mr. Sylvester's.