"I don't know yet, exactly. I shall have to see. My mother-in-law is
going to America; and when she does I'll join her."

"Humph! My good woman, you wouldn't do more than just keep ahead of
starvation."

"Oh, I shouldn't expect to do more. If I succeeded in that--I should
live."

"How much money have you got?"

"It's all here," she answered, picking up the black satchel and opening
it. "These are my securities, and I'm told they're very good."

"And do you take them round with you every time you go shopping?"

"No," Diane smiled, somewhat wanly. "They've been in the hands of the
Messrs. Hargous for a good many years past. They are entirely at my own
disposal--not in trust, they said; so that I had a right to take them
away. I thought I would just bring them to you."

"What for?"

"To keep them for my mother-in-law and pay her the interest, or whatever
it is."

"Why didn't you leave them with Hargous?"

"I was afraid, from some things he said, he would object to what I
wanted to do."