"I am sorry."

"And it's only five dollars a week, and all ye want
to eat--all we can give ye."

"I am glad it is not more. I may not be able to pay
that for very long, but I will pay the first week in advance,
and I will pay the next one in the same way and
leave when my money is gone. Can I see the room?"

Again she studied him. This time it was the gray
waistcoat, the well-ironed shirt and collar, English
scarf, and the blackthorn stick which he carried
balanced in the hollow of his arm. If he had been in
overalls she would not have hesitated an instant, but
she saw that this man was not of her class, nor of any
other class about her. "I don't know whether ye can
or not," came the frank reply. "I'm thinkin' about it.
You don't look as if ye were flat broke. If you're goin'
to take me room, I don't want to be watchin' ye, and I
won't! Once we know ye're clean and decent, ye can
have the run of the place and welcome to it. We had
one dead-beat here last month, and that's enough. Out
with it now! How is it that a"--she hesitated an
instant--"yes, a gentleman like you wants to live over
an express office and eat what we can give ye?"

He made a slight movement with his right hand in
acknowledgment of the class distinction and answered