"Sure I will!" And she would have risen then and there but that he stayed her.
"God bless you for a generous soul!" said he, and laughed rather queerly; also his grey eyes were a little brighter than usual. "Why should you trust me so far?"
"Well, you look honest, I guess. An' then we all help each other in Mulligan's now an' then, one way or another; we jest have to. There's Mrs. Bowker, third floor—the tea an' sugar as I've loaned that woman—an' last week a lovely beef-bone! Well, there! But if you want the loan of that twenty-five—"
"Mrs. Trapes, I don't. Things aren't so desperate as that yet. All I need is a job of some sort."
"What kind o' job?"
"I'm not particular."
"Well—what have you been used to?"
"Alas, Mrs. Trapes, hitherto I have lived a life of—er—riotous ease!"
"That means as you ain't worked at all, I guess. Hm!" said Mrs. Trapes, viewing him with her sharp, hawk's eye, "and yet you ain't got the look of a confidence man nor yet a swell crook, consequently I take it you was the only son of your father an' lost all he left you, eh?"
"Mrs. Trapes, you are a truly wonderful woman!"