“I thought you were a—a—” He hesitated.
“You thought I was respectable,” laughed Therese. “Well, that’s just a little game I was playing on you.”
“But I didn’t give you any money!” he argued.
“Not that time,” she said, “but I thought you would come back.”
He sat gazing at her. “And you earn your living that way still?” he asked. “When you know what’s the matter with you! When you know—”
“What can I do? I have to live, don’t I?”
“But don’t you even take care of yourself? Surely there must be some way, some place—”
“The reformatory, perhaps,” she sneered. “No, thanks! I’ll go there when the police catch me, not before. I know some girls that have tried that.”
“But aren’t you afraid?” cried the man. “And the things that will happen to you! Have you ever talked to a doctor—or read a book?”
“I know,” she said. “I’ve seen it all. If it comes to me, I’ll go over the side of one of the bridges some dark night.”