Ruth Prynne came out of the doctor’s office pulled the fur tight round her throat. She felt faint. Taxi. As she stepped in she remembered the smell of cosmetics and toast and the littered hallway at Mrs. Sunderlands. Oh I cant go home just yet. “Driver go to the Old English Tea Room on Fortieth Street please.” She opened her long green leather purse and looked in. My God, only a dollar a quarter a nickel and two pennies. She kept her eyes on the figures flickering on the taximeter. She wanted to break down and cry.... The way money goes. The gritty cold wind rasped at her throat when she got out. “Eighty cents miss.... I haven’t any change miss.” “All right keep the change.” Heavens only thirtytwo cents.... Inside it was warm and smelled cozily of tea and cookies.
“Why Ruth, if it isn’t Ruth.... Dearest come to my arms after all these years.” It was Billy Waldron. He was fatter and whiter than he used to be. He gave her a stagy hug and kissed her on the forehead. “How are you? Do tell me.... How distinguée you look in that hat.”
“I’ve just been having my throat X-rayed,” she said with a giggle. “I feel like the wrath of God.”
“What are you doing Ruth? I havent heard of you for ages.”
“Put me down as a back number, hadn’t you?” She caught his words up fiercely.
“After that beautiful performance you gave in The Orchard Queen....”
“To tell the truth Billy I’ve had a terrible run of bad luck.”
“Oh I know everything is dead.”
“I have an appointment to see Belasco next week.... Something may come of that.”
“Why I should say it might Ruth.... Are you expecting someone?”