“Oh, I’m so sorry! It is too hard. Do you really have to stay here, Mrs. Porter? Couldn’t you live just as well in some other town?”
“I s’pose so.”
Mrs. Porter’s voice was muffled.
“Goodness knows there ain’t many towns where men don’t git their shirts dirty,” she added.
“I didn’t mean that,” explained Mary softly. “Perhaps you could get into something else. Suppose you go back East with me?”
Mrs. Porter lifted her head quickly and stared wide-eyed at Mary.
“Go East with you?”
“Where there are lots of folks and——”
“Lots of shirts?” supplied Mrs. Porter. “Lord bless you, child, I ain’t got but eighty dollars t’ my name.”
“I have,” said Mary; “I have enough for us both.”