It may be as well to say at once that the house was all that an hotel ought to be, excepting, perhaps, that the prices were a little high. The two sitting-rooms and the two bedrooms--with the maid's room, which had also been taken--did seem to be very heavy to Rachel, who knew down to a shilling--or rather, to a dollar, as she would have said--how much her father had in his pocket. Indefinite promises of great wealth had been also made to herself; but according to a scale suggested by Mr. Moss, a pound a night, out of which she would have to keep herself, was the remuneration immediately promised. Then a sudden thought struck Miss O'Mahony. They were still standing discussing the price in one of the sitting-rooms, and Mr. Moss was also there. "Father," she said, "I'm sure that Frank would not approve." "I don't think that he would feel himself bound to interfere," said Mr. O'Mahony. "When a young woman is engaged to a young man it does make a difference," she replied, looking Mr. Moss full in the face. "The happy man," said Mr. Moss, still bowing and smiling, "would not be so unreasonable as to interfere with the career of his fair _fiancee_." "If we stay here very long," said Rachel, still addressing her father, "I guess we should have to pawn our watches. But here we are for the present, and here we must remain. I am awfully tired now, and should so like to have a cup of tea--by ourselves." Then Mr. Moss took his leave, promising to appear again upon the scene at eleven o'clock on the following day. "Thank you," said Rachel, "you are very kind, but I rather think I shall be out at eleven o'clock." "What is the use of your carrying on like that with the man?" said her father. "Because he's a beast." "My dear, he's not a beast. He's not a beast that you ought to treat in that way. You'll be a beast too if you come to rise high in your profession. It is a kind of work which sharpens the intellect, but is apt to make men and women beasts. Did you ever hear of a prima donna who thought that another prima donna sang better than she did?" "I guess that all the prima donnas sing better than I do." "But you have not got to the position yet. Mr. Moss, I take it, was doing very well in New York, so as to have become a beast, as you call him. But he's very good-natured." "He's a nasty, stuck-up, greasy Jew. A decent young woman is insulted by being spoken to by him." "What made you tell him that you were engaged to Frank Jones?" "I thought it might protect me--but it won't. I shall tell him next time that I am Frank's wife. But even that will not protect me." "You will have to see him very often." "And very often I shall have to be insulted. I guess he does the same kind of thing with all the singing girls who come into his hands." "Give it up, Rachel."