"Matter? Why, I'm so happy I just don't know what to do! I've heard from my Joe!"
Mrs. Shrimplin rested her hands on her hips and surveyed Nellie with eyes that seemed to hold pity and contempt in about equal proportion.
"You've heard from Joe! Well, if he was my husband he'd have heard from me long ago!" she said.
And it occurred to Mr. Shrimplin that his wife was wonderfully consistent in her inconsistencies.
"Well, and what have you got against Joe?" demanded Mrs. Montgomery with ready anger.
"She ain't got nothing new, Nellie!" said Mr. Shrimplin, desirous of preserving the peace.
"Well, she's mighty quick to misjudge him! Look!" and she drew from the envelope she held in her hand a dirty greenback. "He's sent me twenty dollars—my man has! Does that look like he'd forgotten me or his children?" protested Nellie, in a voice of happy triumph.
"I'll bet it's counterfeit; I'd go slow on trying to pass it," said Mr. Shrimplin when he had somewhat recovered from the shock of the sudden announcement.
It was plain that Nellie had never thought of any such possibility as this, for the light died out of her eyes.
"How can I find out whether it's good or not?" she faltered.