you'd seen a ghost?" he
asked.

"Discharged," she answered promptly.

"Why?"

"Fainted yesterday," she went on, "and was a bit wobbly to-day. The head
clerk said he wanted some one stronger."

"Brute!" Philip muttered. "Well, that's all right, Martha. I have some
work for you."

"Don't want to do your work."

"Little fool!" he exclaimed. "Martha, do you know you're the most
obstinate, pig-headed, prejudiced, ill-tempered little beast I ever
knew?"

"Then go along and leave me," she insisted, stopping short, "if I'm all
that."

"You're also a dear!"

She drew a little breath and looked at him fiercely.

"Now don't be silly," he begged. "I'm starving. I had no lunch so that I
could dine early. Here we are at Durrad's."

"I'm not going inside there with you," she declared.

"Look here," he expostulated, "are we going to do a wrestling act on the
sidewalk? It will be in all the papers, you know."

"Spoil your clothes some, wouldn't it?" she remarked, looking at them
disparagingly.

"It would indeed, also my temper," he assured her. "We are going to have
a cocktail, you and I, within two minutes, young lady, and a steak
afterwards. If you want to go in there with my hand on your neck, you
can, but I think it would look better--"

She set her feet squarely upon the ground and faced him.

"Mr. Ware," she said, "I am in rags--any one can see that. Listen. I will
not go into a restaurant and sit by your side to have people wonder what
woman from the streets you have brought in to give a meal to out of
charity. Do you hear that? I can live or I can die, just by myself. If I
can't keep myself, I'll die, but I won't. Nothing doing. You hear?"

She had been so strong and then something in his eyes, that pitying, half
anxious expression with which he listened, suddenly seemed to sap her
determination. She swayed a little upon her feet--she was indeed very
tired and very weak. Philip took instant advantage of her condition.
Without a moment's hesitation he passed his arm firmly through hers, and
before she could protest she was inside the place, being led to a table,
seated there with her back to the wall, with a confused tangle of words
still in her throat, unuttered. Then two great tears found their way into
her eyes. She said nothing because she could not. Philip was busy talking
to the waiter. Soon there was a cocktail by her side, and he was
drinking, smiling at her, perfectly good-natured, obviously accept