"Yes, I know. When did you come to New York?"
"It is—two years now."
"Two years!" Mrs. Busby started up in her chair a little, and a faint colour rose in her cheeks; then it faded and her lips took a hard set. "Ill all that time?"
"No. She was not ill for the first year."
"Say, 'No ma'am,' my dear. That is the proper way. Do you know what induced her to move to New York, Rotha?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Rotha colouring.
"May I know?"
"Didn't you know we were very poor?" said Rotha in a lower voice.
"How was that the reason?"
"We couldn't—I mean—she couldn't, get work at Medwayville."