Queenie hesitated, and then her face grew crimson.
"Speak out; you are too proud, eh?"
"I would not take it for myself, but for Emmie's sake I should be thankful."
"I know nothing about Emmie," with a frown. "If you take it it is for yourself mind; the child is nothing to me; I cannot and will not recognize her."
"If I take it it will be to buy her comforts," replied Queenie, scrupulously.
"Spend it how you will, it is nothing to me," was the irritable answer. "I have made you a good offer to-night. By the sacrifice of a few months you could earn enough to maintain both the child and yourself for more than a year to come, and you choose to refuse the offer. I can say no more."
"I dare not accept it. If anything were to happen to Emmie, I should never forgive myself. Mamma always told me that we must never leave a certain duty for an uncertain one; and Emmie is my duty."
"Pshaw! female sophistry. The child would do well enough; children always do."
Queenie shook her head.
"It goes to my heart to refuse you. If I were free I would come and serve you, not only for the sake of the money, but because mamma loved you so dearly."