There was a change in her
face--a change for the better but also for the worse. She looked more
intelligent, more of a woman. There was more sparkle in her eyes and in her
smile. But--Howard saw instantly the price she had paid. As the German had
suggested, she had "got on up town."
She was pulling at the long broad blue ribbons of her negligee. Her hands
were whiter and her pink finger nails had had careful attention. She
smiled, enjoying his astonishment. "I have come back," she said.
Howard came forward and took her hand. "I'm glad, very glad to see you. For
a minute I thought I was dreaming."
"Yes," she went on, "I'm in my old room. I came this afternoon. I must have
been asleep, for I didn't hear you come in."
"I hope it isn't bad luck that has flung you back here."
"Oh, no. I've been doing very well. I've been saving up to come. And when I
had enough to last me through the summer, I--I came."
"You've been at work?"
She dropped her eyes and flushed. And her fingers played more nervously
with her ribbons.
"You needn't treat me as a child any longer," she said at last in a low
voice; "I'm eighteen now and--well, I'm not a child."
Again there was a long pause. Howard, watching her downcast face, saw her
steadying her expression to meet his eyes.
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