"Come off," she good-naturedly replied.
"Yes, I am. I was in a house onc't, but I'm new to this, an' I ain't just sure how to go about it."
"Oh," said the child, "it's dead easy to learn the curves, but it's the hardest job in the world. Can't your fellow put you wise?"
"My fellow?"
"Sure, your fellow, your friend, your sweetheart. Honest, now; ain't you workin' for nobody?"
"No."
"Well, you ought to be. Most all the girls is. You can't get along right without one. Who's goin' to go your bail when you're pinched?"
"Will I be pinched?"
"About as often as onc't a month, kid—unless you let the cop call onc't a week."
"I guess I can stand him," said Mary. She was past the stage of objections.