mother. Why, he goes away and stays for days. Then he comes home and
quarrels with her all the time. They never both sit through a meal. One or
the other flares up and leaves. He generally whipped me when he got very
mad--just for spite."

"But there's your mother."

"Yes. She doesn't like my going away. But I can't stand it. Papa wouldn't
let me go anywhere or let anybody come to see me. He says everybody's bad.
I guess he's about right. Only he doesn't include himself."

"You seem to have a poor opinion of people."

"Well, you can't blame me." She put on her wise look of experience and
craft. "I've been away, living with Nellie for four months and I've seen no
good to speak of. A girl doesn't get a fair chance."

"But you've got work?"

"Oh, yes. We both stayed down in a restaurant, Nellie's got a place as
waiter. That's the best she could do. The man said I was good-looking
and would catch trade. So he made me cashier. I get six dollars a week
to Nellie's three. But it's a bad place. The men are always slipping notes
in my hand when they give me their checks. Then the boss, he's always
bothering around."

"But you don't have to work hard?"

"From nine till four. We get our lunch free. I pay three dollars on the
room and Nellie pays one."