“We’ll see about that later. Straighten yourself up and get ready to go. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She caught at him as he was turning away.
“Tell me what you’re goin’ to do to me! I’ll kill myself if you——”
“Don’t worry; I’m going to send you home—back to your people.”
Before he could stop her she had gone on her knees to him in a frenzy of gratitude.
“Don’t do that!” he protested sharply, lifting her to her feet. “There’s nothing to thank me for, and you haven’t any time to lose. Get busy with the wash-basin.”
In the lower hall he found the hard-faced woman with the bejeweled ears, neck and hands. She was evidently waiting to find out what would befall. Philip was bluntly direct.
“That girl up there will never be any good to you,” he asserted crisply. “If you will tell me how much she owes you, I’ll pay her out and send her home.”
The woman saw her chance and grasped it avidly.
“Yes, you will!” she jeered. “I know your la-de-dah kind. You want her for yourself. I’m short o’ girls, and I ain’t goin’ to let her go!”