"Good-night," they chorused politely, as they might to any stranger.
Rosie started in, then turned back. "And, Jarge, I forgot to tell you about Monday afternoon. I'm sorry I can't go with you but Tom Sullivan invited me first."
"That so?" George said, and from his tone, Rosie knew that he didn't understand what she was talking about. Worse still, he wasn't interested enough to find out.
Rosie dragged herself slowly upstairs. In the bedroom, when she felt for matches, she discovered that her hand was still clutching the note which George had given her earlier in the evening. She read it again by the light of the candle. "... Say, kid, I'm just crazy about you!..." Jackie turned over in his sleep and Rosie hastily blew out the candle for fear he should open his eyes and see her tears.
She groped her way to bed in the dark and wept herself miserably to sleep.
CHAPTER XXXV
ELLEN MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENT
The next morning at breakfast Ellen declared herself. She addressed her mother, but what she had to say was for the whole family.
"I just want to tell you, Ma, I'm done with stenography forever. 'Tain't my line and I know it and I should have known it long ago. Now you needn't argue because that's all there is about it."
Mrs. O'Brien looked at Ellen blankly. "Why—why, Ellen dear," she stammered, "what's this I hear you saying?"