easant whine.

"No. But Mr. Farvel was relieved when he thought you had told me about
this matter. And the fact is, you haven't told me at all."

He was cornered. His tall figure sagged. And his eyes fell before his
sister's. "I--I," he began. Then in an outburst, "It's Hattie I'm
thinking of! Hattie!"

"Ah, as if _I_ don't think of Hattie!" Sue's voice trembled. "I want
to think you've had nothing to do with this. I couldn't bear it if
anything hurt her--her happiness--with you."

Outside, the stairs creaked heavily. Then sounded a _bang, bang,_ as
of some heavy thing falling. Next came Tottie's voice, shrill, and
strangely triumphant: "Hey there! You're tryin' to sneak! Yes, you
are! And you haven't paid me!"

Sue understood. She opened the hall door, and took her place beside
Clare as if to defend her. The latter could not speak, but stood, a
pathetic figure, holding to a suitcase with one hand, and with the
other carrying the bird-cage.

"Get back in there!" ordered Tottie, beginning to descend from the
upper landing.

Clare obeyed, Sue helping her with the suitcase. "I'll send the
money," she pleaded. "I--I meant to. Oh, Tottie!"

Tottie was down by now, scowling and nursing a foot, for she had
slipped. She made "shooing" gestures at Clare.

"How much does Miss Crosby owe you?" asked Sue, getting between Clare
and the landlady.

"Sixteen dollars--and some telephone calls."

"Let me----" It was Wallace. He ran a hand into a pocket.

Sue warned him with a look. "Mr. Balcome will lend it," she said.

Balcome did not wait to be asked. From an inside coat pocket he
produced a black wallet fat with bills, and pulled away the rubber band
that circled it.

Tottie viewed the wallet with greedy eyes. "And there's some laundry,"
she supplemented; "and Mrs. Colter's lunch today--just before you come
in, Clare,--and Barbara's."

Clare implored her to stop by a gesture. "Twenty," she said to
Balcome. "I'll pay it back."

Sue took the bills that Balcome held out, and gave them to Tottie.
"Keep the change," she suggested, anxious to get the woman away.

Tottie recovered her best air. "Wouldn't mention such small items,"
she explained, "but it's been a bad season, and I haven't had one
engagement--not one. As I say,----"

"Don't apologize. I can tell a generous woman when I see one." This
with a hearty smile.

Tottie simpered, shoved the money under the lace of her bodice, an