"What's the matter, dear?" called the girl, hurrying into the other room.
No answer came.
Marcia was sitting fingering a slip of green paper she had taken from a long envelope.
With wild, despairing eyes she regarded it.
Then, as Sylvia came nearer, she bowed her head upon the desk and began to sob as if her heart would break.
"Marcia, dear—Marcia—what is it?" cried Sylvia, rushing to her and clasping the shaking figure in her arms. "Tell me what it is, dear."
"Oh, how could he!" moaned the woman. "How could he be so cruel!"
"What has happened. Marcia?"
"Stanley—he has left a check—money—thrown it in my face! And I did it so gladly—because I loved him. He knew that. Yet he could leave this—pay me—as if I were a common servant. I had rather he struck me—a hundred times rather."
The girl took the check.