“And I guess,” Sonia broke out angrily, “if you’d ever stood behind a counter from eight in the morning to six at night, you’d know how nice that is! You earn enough. I think it’s real mean and stingy of you to grudge a share of it to this poor sick baby—and me. I do so!”
“I don’t grudge anything to the baby, Sonia, though I do think it is your business to provide for her, not mine. But I say again it is not right for me to have to support you, and I am not willing to do it. It is best to speak plainly once for all.”
“Well, I should say you were speaking plainly,” Sonia flung out with an unpleasant smile. She rocked with a quick motion, her brows drawn into a frown. “How can I go into a store, even if I could get a place? I couldn’t take the baby with me,” she muttered.
“I could bring my work home—most of it—and you could leave the baby with me.”
“Ah ha! I knew it. I knew you could do your work here if you wanted to,” Sonia triumphed, pointing to the bench in the corner. “You just don’t want to stay here with me.” Olga made no denial and her sister went on in a complaining tone, “Anyhow I’d like to know how I’m going to get a place anywhere when I’ve no decent clothes. You know it makes all the difference how one is dressed.”
“That is true,” Olga admitted, “but, Sonia, I cannot buy you a suit. I haven’t the money.”
“You could borrow it.”
Olga’s face flushed. “I’ve never borrowed a cent in my life or bought anything on credit, except—mother’s coffin,” she said passionately. “And I did night work till I paid for that. I cannot run in debt. I will not!”
Sonia shrugged her shoulders. “Well then, if you want me to get a place, you’ll just have to let me wear that suit of yours that you are so choice of.”
Olga was silent. It was true that Sonia’s chance of securing employment would be small if she sought it in the shabby clothes which she had. But Olga needed that suit. The money which would have bought a new one had paid her doctor’s bill. Still—the important thing was to get Sonia to work. “I suppose,” she said slowly, “I shall have to let you wear it, but, Sonia, you must realise how it is, and do your best to find a place soon. Will you do that?”