He made a furious gesture, looked at the girl angrily—holding her responsible for his being in a position where he must do violence to every decent instinct—"My God, miss, I've got a wife and children to look after. If I ran my hotel on sympathy, what'd become of them?"
"I wouldn't take anything I couldn't pay for," said Susan. "As soon as I earn some money——"
"Don't worry about that," interrupted the manager. He saw now that he was dealing with one who would in no circumstances become troublesome; he went on in an easier tone: "You can stay till the house fills up."
"Could you give me a place to wait on table and clean up rooms—or help cook?"
"No, I don't need anybody. The town's full of people out of work. You can't ask me to turn away——"
"Please—I didn't know," cried the girl.
"Anyhow, I couldn't give but twelve a month and board," continued the manager. "And the work—for a lady like you——"
A lady! She dropped her gaze in confusion. If he knew about her birth!
"I'll do anything. I'm not a lady," said she. "But I've got to have at least ten a week in cash."
"No such place here." The manager was glad to find the fault of uppish ideas in this girl who was making it hard for him to be business-like. "No such place anywhere for a beginner."