“You see—I’ve kept my promise.”
Mrs. Toomey stood motionless, staring.
“Why! Where did you get it?” when speech came back to her.
“That’s my secret,” Kate replied, gently. “But it’s yours to use as long as you need it.”
Without warning, Mrs. Toomey burst into tears.
“I c-can’t help it!” she sobbed on Kate’s shoulder. “It’s so—unexpected.”
Relief was paramount to all other emotions, but she vowed as she wept that she would show her gratitude, and would be Kate’s friend as she had promised, and she would—the feeling of the money in her hand gave her courage—defy Prissy Pantin, if necessary.
Kate and Mrs. Toomey separated with the warm handclasp of friendship.
Mrs. Toomey waited in a tremulous state of eagerness for her husband’s return. It was months since she had known such a feeling of relief; it was as though years suddenly had dropped from her. She went about the house humming, trying to decide upon the most effective way of surprising him, and planning how she would spend the money to derive the most good from it. At intervals she opened the top drawer of the bureau and looked at the banknotes to be sure she was not dreaming. They would pay a little on their most urgent bills, to show their good intentions, and then buy supplies enough to render impossible any such experiences as those they had undergone recently. A goodly portion would be kept for emergencies until Jap got into something.
Mrs. Toomey glowed with gratitude to Kate and the delightful sensation of relaxed nerves after a tension. She felt as peaceful as though she had taken an opiate, therefore, when Toomey came in swaggering and with the black brow which told her of disappointment, she smiled at him tranquilly.