the other," that drunkard;--the man with the thirty-six girls!
And they laughed and they laughed, my! Lily herself held her sides with
laughing.

All this was stage effect, professional exaggeration. Lily dared not
indulge in it before Jimmy. She was more sincere, always a little
embarrassed, in the presence of that man toward whom everybody was driving
her, as though they all saw farther into her life than she herself could.
She was no longer ill, only tired, with an accumulation of past
wearinesses that made her love to lie down flat. But she would get up
to-morrow, instead of remaining in bed to see her friends; no humbug
before Jimmy.

The next day when he came, Lily was alone. So much the better, he had
something to say to her. He had made up his mind that day. His own present
prosperity formed too great a contrast with the poverty of Lily ... that
poor kiddie who had run away from home in pursuit of happiness and whom he
now found here, in this squalid room.... It was all very well to theorize
about children who have earned fortunes and who haven't a farthing; but
that was mere talk! Suppose he helped Lily a little in the meantime. He
had prepared all sorts of good reasons; he had found a smart excuse, the
great excuse of the music-hall, that he had been betting on horses and
losing. He would ask Lily to keep his money for him, as a kindness,
otherwise he simply couldn't help it, his money burned a hole in his
pocket. Then, on second thought, why all that fuss? Hadn't he known her
since she was that high? And, the moment he came in, he just handed Lily a
thousand-mark note:

"For the law-costs, Lily! And, anything over, for your expenses, till
Trampy's money comes. Only too pleased to be of any use. You can pay it
back when it suits you. And good-by, Lily, ta-ta!"

And he hurried out, leaving Lily with the thousand marks in her hand.

Lily was stupefied and confused. She asked herself why? why? a real piece
of brain-work, which made her head ache. Anyhow she would give back the
money to-morrow! She wouldn't keep it! Trampy would be sure to bring some;
it was impossible that he should bring nothing; but, come what may, she
would give back the money to-morrow! She took the great oath of the stage
upon it: three fingers of her right hand uplifted; her left hand on the
lucky charm. And then she went and shut the door, turned the key in the
lock and lay down....

* * * *