the
table, he said:

"I know. I guess there's enough there for your immediate needs. Later
you can straighten things up. Shall I send the car?"

"Yes, please."

He drew nearer and bent over her, as if about to caress her.
Instinctively she shrank from his embrace. What at any other time would
have appeared perfectly natural was now repugnant to her. It seemed
indecent when the ink on her letter to John Madison was not yet dry.

"Please don't," she said. "Remember, we don't dine until seven-thirty."

"All right," he laughed, as he took his hat and cane and went out of
the door.

For a few minutes after his departure Laura sat in meditative silence.
There was no drawing back now. She had accepted this man's money. She
must go on to the end, no matter where it led her. She had sold
herself; henceforth she was this man's slave and chattel. Suddenly she
was seized with a feeling of disgust. She loathed herself for her
weakness, her lack of stamina, her cowardice. She did not deserve that
a decent man should love or respect her. Angry at herself, angry with
the world, she rose, and going to the dresser, got the alcohol lamp and
placed it on the table. While she was lighting it there came a knock at
the door.

"Come in," she called out.

Annie entered.

"Is that you, Annie?"

"Yassum," said the negress.

Laura took the bank notes which Brockton had left and threw them on the
table. With affected carelessness, she said:

"Mrs. Farley wants her rent. There is some money. Take it to her."

Approaching the table, the negress' eyes nearly started out of her head
when she caught sight of the bank notes. Bewildered, she exclaimed:

"Dey ain't nothin' heah, Miss Laura, but five great big one hundred
dollah bills!"

"Take two," said Laura. "And look in that upper drawer. You'll find
some pawn-tickets there."

"Yassum," said the negress, obeying instructions. "Dat's real money--dem's
yellow backs, sure!"

"Take the two top ones," continued Laura, "and go get my lace gown and
one of the hats. The ticket is for a hundred and ten dollars. Keep ten
for yourself, and hurry."

Annie gasped from sheer excitement.

"Ten for myself?" she grinned. "I never seen so much money. Yassum,
Miss Laura, yassum." As she went toward the door she turned round, and
said: "Ah'm so mighty glad yo' out all yo' trouble, Miss Laura. I says
to Mis' Farley, now----"

Laura cut her off short.

"Don't--don't!" she exclaimed sharply. "Go