"When they have courage," Brent repeated reflectively. "But who has courage?"
"A great many people are compelled to have it," said she.
"I never had it until I got enough money to be independent."
"I never had it," said Susan, "until I had no money."
He leaned against the big table, folded his arms on his chest, looked at her with eyes that made her feel absolutely at ease with him. Said he:
"You have known what it was to have no money—none?"
Susan nodded. "And no friends—no place to sleep—worse off than Robinson Crusoe when the waves threw him on the island. I had to—to suck my own blood to keep alive."
"You smile as you say that," said he.
"If I hadn't learned to smile over such things," she answered,
"I'd have been dead long ago."
He seated himself opposite her. He asked: