"I could be useful," said Angelica sullenly. "I can sew—trim hats—I worked with a milliner once. Whatever else you wanted I could learn, and I wouldn’t expect much pay while I was learning."
The lady interrupted her.
"How much would you expect?" she asked, with sudden interest.
"I don’t care. Just enough to help—mother. And I’m real quick to learn. I could——”
"There isn’t anything to learn, my dear," said the red-haired one. With an astounding change of manner, she suddenly became confidential and garrulous. "You see, it’s for my daughter-in-law, Mrs. Geraldine. She must have some one with her. The doctor says she’s not to be left alone. She’s been through a dreadful experience. She lost her sweet little baby six weeks ago. Isn’t that dreadful?"
Angelica agreed briefly that it was.
"Well, I want some one just to be about with her, you know. No work; it’s really an ideal life. I said to my husband I’d absolutely love to do it myself, if I had the time. She’s the dearest soul—a little depressed now, naturally. How much would you expect?"
"What do you want to give?"
"You see, it has to come out of my own pocket. I’m doing it for her, to make her happy. I’ll pay, but she’ll have the benefit; and of course I’m not able to—I’ll give you twenty dollars."
"A week?"