"Well, yo' know," went on the maid, "Mis' Farley she's been havin' so much trouble wid her roomers. Yestuhday dat young lady on de second flo' front, she lef. She's gwine wid some troupe on the road. She owed her room for three weeks, and jus' had to leave her trunk. My! how Mis' Farley did scold her. Mis' Farley let on she could have paid dat money if she wanted to, but, somehow, Ah guess she couldn't——"
She was carrying the pillows round the table, when suddenly she stopped talking and stooped to inspect the letter, which was still lying there. Laura happened to look up. Indignantly, she exclaimed:
"Annie!"
The negress looked confused, but was not otherwise abashed. Going on with her work, she continued coolly:
"—For if she could, she wouldn't have left her trunk, would she, Miss Laura?"
"No, I suppose not," replied the actress guardedly. After a pause, she asked: "What did Mrs. Farley say about me?"
The negress picked up the kimona from the chair and carried it to the wardrobe. With some hesitation, she said:
"Oh, nothin' much."
She needed encouragement, and Laura gave it to her.
"Well, what?"