"I am sorry, but I can't go out this afternoon, Elfie."
"What's the matter?"
"You see, I'm staying home a good deal nowadays. I haven't been feeling very well, and I don't go out much."
"I should think not. I haven't seen even a glimpse of you anywhere since you returned from Denver. I caught sight of you one day on Broadway, but couldn't get you—you dived into some office or other."
Rising from her chair, for the first time she surveyed the room critically. Unable to contain herself any longer, she burst out explosively:
"Gee! Whatever made you come into a dump like this? It's the limit!"
Laura smiled uneasily. Going to the table, she said awkwardly:
"Oh, I know it isn't pleasant, but it's my home, and, after all—a home's a home."
Elfie shrugged her shoulders.
"Looks more like a prison." Finding on the mantel a bit of stale candy, she popped it into her mouth from sheer force of habit. But it was no sooner in than, with an expression of disgust, she spat it out on the floor. Scornfully, she added: "Makes me think of the old days, the dairy kitchen and a hall bedroom,"