Laura put up a hand to cool her burning forehead. Looking out of the window, she said wistfully: "Maybe--maybe if he knew all about it--the suffering--he wouldn't blame me." "Who?" cried Elfie sarcastically. "The good man who wanted to lead you to the good life without even a bread-basket for an advance agent? Huh!" "He doesn't know how desperately poor I am," explained Laura half-apologetically. "He knows you're out of work, don't he?" "Not exactly. I told him it was difficult to find an engagement, but he has no idea that things are as they are." "Then you're a chump!" declared Elfie, with an expressive shrug of her shoulders. "Hasn't he sent you anything?" "He hasn't anything to send." Elfie bounded with indignant surprise. "What? Then what does he think you're going to live on--asphalt croquettes with conversation sauce?" Sinking down on a chair, Laura gave way again. "I don't know--I don't know!" she cried, sobbing. Elfie went over to her friend and placed her arms about her. "Don't be foolish, dearie. You know there is somebody waiting for you--somebody who'll be good to you and get you out of this mess." Laura looked up quickly. "You mean Will Brockton?" she said, fixing her companion with a steady stare. "Yes." "Do you know where he is?" "Yes." "Well?" "You won't get sore again if I tell you, will you?" Laura rose. "No--why?" she said. "He's downstairs--waiting in the car. I promised to tell him what you said." "Then it was all planned, and--and----" "Now, dearie, I knew you were up against it, and I wanted to bring you two together. He's got half of the Burgess shows, and if you'll only see him, everything will be fixed." "When does he want to see me?" "Now." "Here?" "Yes. Shall I tell him to come up?" Motionless as a statue, Laura made no sign. Her face pale as death, her hands clasped in front of her, she stood as if transfixed, staring out of the window. "Shall I tell him to come up?" repeated Elfie impatiently. Still no answer for a long moment that seemed like an hour. Then all at once, with a quick, convulsive movement, as if by a determined effort she had succeeded in conquering her own will, she turned and cried, with a half sob: "Yes--yes--tell him to come up!" Elfie sprang joyously forward. Her arguments had not been in vain, after all. Kissing her friend's cold cheeks, she exclaimed: "Now you're a sensible dear. I'll bet he's half-frozen down there. I'll send him up at once." Anxious to get Brockton there before the girl had a chance to change her mind, she was hurrying toward the door, when she happened to notice Laura's red eyes and tear-stained face. That would never do. Coming back, she exclaimed: "Look at you, Laura! You're a perfect sight!" Throwing her gloves and muff onto a chair, she led the girl to the washstand, and taking a towel, wiped her eyes and face.