“I knew what you thought,” he replied. “That’s all over now. I’m going to ’tend to that family of yours. And I’ll do it right now while I think of it.”
He drew out his purse and extracted several ten and twenty-dollar bills—two hundred and fifty dollars in all. “I want you to take this,” he said. “It’s just the beginning. I will see that your family is provided for from now on. Here, give me your hand.”
“Oh no,” she said. “Not so much. Don’t give me all that.”
“Yes,” he replied. “Don’t argue. Here. Give me your hand.”
She put it out in answer to the summons of his eyes, and he shut her fingers on the money, pressing them gently at the same time. “I want you to have it, sweet. I love you, little girl. I’m not going to see you suffer, nor any one belonging to you.”
Her eyes looked a dumb thankfulness, and she bit her lips.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” she said.
“You don’t need to,” he replied. “The thanks are all the other way—believe me.”
He paused and looked at her, the beauty of her face holding him. She looked at the table, wondering what would come next.
“How would you like to leave what you’re doing and stay at home?” he asked. “That would give you your freedom day times.”