"Well, could I talk to Mrs.--Lawrence, was it?" "Most assuredly. I _expect_ you to talk to her! Come with me." Una followed abjectly, and the matron seemed well pleased with her reformation of this wayward young woman. Her voice was curiously anemic, however, as she rapped on a bedroom door and called, "Oh, Mrs. Lawrence!" A husky, capable voice within, "Yeah, what is 't?" "It's Mrs. Fike, deary. I think I have a room-mate for you." "Well, you wait 'll I get something on, will you!" Mrs. Fike waited. She waited two minutes. She looked at a wrist-watch in a leather band while she tapped her sensibly clad foot. She tried again: "We're _waiting_, deary!" There was no answer from within, and it was two minutes more before the door was opened. Una was conscious of a room pleasant with white-enameled woodwork; a denim-covered couch and a narrow, prim brass bed, a litter of lingerie and sheets of newspaper; and, as the dominating center of it all, a woman of thirty, tall, high-breasted, full-faced, with a nose that was large but pleasant, black eyes that were cool and direct and domineering--Mrs. Esther Lawrence. "You kept us waiting so long," complained Mrs. Fike. Mrs. Lawrence stared at her as though she were an impudent servant. She revolved on Una, and with a self-confident kindliness in her voice, inquired, "What's your name, child?" "Una Golden." "We'll talk this over.... Thank you, Mrs. Fike." "Well, now," Mrs. Fike endeavored, "be sure you both are satisfied--" "Don't you worry! We will, all right!" Mrs. Fike glared at her and retired. Mrs. Lawrence grinned, stretched herself on the couch, mysteriously produced a cigarette, and asked, "Smoke?" "No, thanks." "Sit down, child, and be comfy. Oh, would you mind opening that window? Not supposed to smoke.... Poor Ma Fike--I just can't help deviling her. Please don't think I'm usually as nasty as I am with her. She has to be kept in her place or she'll worry you to death.... Thanks.... Do sit down--woggle up the pillow on the bed and be comfy.... You look like a nice kid--me, I'm a lazy, slatternly, good-natured old hex, with all the bad habits there are and a profound belief that the world is a hell of a place, but I'm fine to get along with, and so let's take a shot at rooming together. If we scrap, we can quit instanter, and no bad feelings.... I'd really like to have you come in, because you look as though you were on, even if you are rather meek and kitteny; and I'm scared to death they'll wish some tough little Mick on to me, or some pious sister who hasn't been married and believes in pussy-footing around and taking it all to God in prayer every time I tell her the truth.... What do you think, kiddy?" Una was by this cock-sure disillusioned, large person more delighted than by all the wisdom of Mr. Wilkins or the soothing of Mrs. Sessions. She felt that, except for Walter, it was the first time since she had come to New York that she had found an entertaining person.