“She's just about the same.”
“What does she say?”
“She's too weak and sick to say anything. I don't imagine she knows or cares what is happening to her.”
“Is she strong enough to get downstairs to a cab, or to ride in one afterward?”
“I guess so. We could help her, you know. But, Hosy, what cab? What do you mean? What are you going to do?”
“I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm going to take her away from this hole. I must. I don't want to; there's no reason why I should and every reason why I shouldn't; but—Oh, well, confound it! I've got to. We CAN'T let her starve and die here.”
“But where are you going to take her?”
“There's only one place to take her; that's to Bancroft's. I've 'phoned and engaged a room next to ours. She'll have to stay with us for the present. Oh, I don't like it any better than you do.”
To my intense surprise, Hephzy threw her arms about my neck and hugged me.
“I knew you would, Hosy!” she sobbed. “I knew you would. I was dyin' to have you, but I wouldn't have asked for the world. You're the best man that ever lived. I knew you wouldn't leave poor Ardelia's little girl to—to—Oh, I'm so grateful. You're the best man in the world.”