"Yes, Katie told me that."
"Well, dey had some trouble gettin' pail fur her. Everybody vas afraid fur to do it vith O'Malley after her. Still, dey vorked it somevays und nobody thought but she'd jump it und run avay; but she didn't. She tried, but O'Malley had central office men keepin' eyes on her, und she can't leaf town."
Katie and Carrie were busying themselves in the preparation of the supper, and the German seated himself beside the invalid.
"Mr. Hoffmann," she said, "I've been tryin' to think of lots of things while I've been sick, an' I'd like to know how it is that women like Miss Rose are allowed?"
He looked at her, hesitating, but her eyes were frankly curious.
"Dot's von long story," he answered in his slow tones, "un' dem as can tell it best is most all in deir houses or in deir graves, or else, in de streets."
"Then I guess I was lucky to get away."
"If you don't mind me sayin' it—yes, miss."
"But don't the girls get free when the houses are pinched?"
"No," said Hermann, as gently as he could; "dey don't get free. Ofer to de Night Court a voman has taken five s'ousand to a blace she has, und how many sink you didn't go back to de vork again? Less'n von hundret und fifty."