ared up at her as if the baby too were wondering
what chance there was for her. Olga laid her face for a moment against
one little white cheek; then pulling out her bench she set to work.

At twelve o'clock Sonia came back. "O dear!" she exclaimed with a swift
glance around the room, "I hoped you'd have dinner ready, Olga. I'm
tired to death."

Without a word Olga put aside her work and went to the gas stove. Sonia
pulled off her shoes--Olga's shoes--and took off Olga's hat, and rocked
until the meal was ready.

"What luck did you have?" Olga inquired when they were at the table.

"Not a bit. I tell you, Olga, you're a mighty lucky girl to have that
work to do." She nodded towards the bench.

Olga ignored that. "Where did you try?" she asked.

"Well, I tried at Woodward & Lothrop's." Sonia's tone was distinctly
sulky. "They hadn't any vacancy--or anyhow they said so."

"They always have a long waiting-list, I know. Did you leave your name?"

"No, I didn't. What was the use with scores ahead of me?"

"And where else did you try?"

"I didn't try _any_where else!" Sonia said with a defiant lift of her
chin. "You needn't think, Olga, that you can drive me like a slave just
because I am staying with you. I'm going to take my time about this
business, and don't you forget it!"

Olga waited until she could speak quietly; then she said, "Sonia, there
is one thing you've got to understand. I _must_ have peace. I cannot do
my work if there is to be discord and friction all the time between you
and me."

"It's your own fault," Sonia retorted. "I'm peaceful enough if I'm let
alone. I let you alone."

"But, Sonia, don't you see that we can't go on this way?" Olga pleaded.
"Don't you feel that you ought to pay half our expenses if you stay with
me?"

"No, I don't. Why should I pay half?" Sonia demanded. "Your rent is no
higher because I am here."

"No, but I have to sleep on the floor, and it is not very restful as you
would find if you tried it once."

"Well, why don't you buy a cot then? You could get one for two dollars."

"I need the two dollars for other things," Olga answered wearily. "Do
you mean, Sonia, that you are not going to look for a place anywhere
else?"

"O, I'll look--but I won't be hurried about it," Sonia declared moodily.

"Well," Olga spoke with deliberation, "if that is your attitude, there
is but one thing for me to do, and that is to go away from here."

"Olga! You couldn't be that _me