te begins to pay you enough income to live on, and you could devote
the best of yourself to your book--it seems a shame not to be able to
take advantage of it. You've always said," she went on, "that a woman
can't successfully begin to create after she's thirty-five. This will
certainly put you behind a while. And the room rent too! Does she know
yet that you didn't tell her the truth about the price of the room in
Irving Place?"

"No, Ruth doesn't know," replied Esther. "She's very proud about such
matters. When she first came she had only an empty trunk, a new job, and
a few dollars. Later, when I was going to explain, she lost her
position with Mrs. Sewall. I was thankful I hadn't told her then."

"Well, I must say!" exclaimed Rosa warmly, "I must say!"

"Rosa," said Esther. "You don't understand. If Ruth did pay her full
share of the room, she would be obliged to leave me sooner. Don't you
see? My motives are selfish. You're the one person who knew me back
there at home. You have seen all along how stark and empty my life has
been--just my independence, my thoughts, my ambitions. That's all. No
one to care, no one to make sacrifices for, no man, no child----Good
heavens, if some human being has fallen across my way, don't be
surprised if I prize my good fortune."

I lay very still listening to Esther's voice. I closed my eyes for fear
she might glance up and meet the tears in them, and sudden
understanding. I had never known her till now. I could feel the tears,
in spite of me, creeping down my cheeks.

I left the hospital a week later. They sent me back to the room in
Irving Place with orders for long walks in the fresh air, two-hour rest
periods morning and afternoon, and a diet of eggs, chicken, cream and
fresh green vegetables. Ridiculous orders for a working girl in New
York! They disturbed Esther. She was very quiet, more uncommunicative
than ever. I used to catch her looking at me in a sort of anxious way.
It seemed as if I couldn't wait to help her with her too-heavy burden.
Although I had brought back from the hospital fifteen pounds less flesh
on my bones, there was something in my heart instead that was sure to
make me strong and well. My new incentive was the secret knowledge of
Esther's devotion. To prove to her that her sacrifices had not been in
vain became my ambition. For a few days I idled in the room, as the
doctor ordered; strolled about Gramercy Park near-by, feeding my eyes on
green grass