failing, you know; if she once likes people, she
won't hear anything against them."

"I think I'd better go home and look after
Antonia," I said.

"I think you had." Lena looked up at me
in frank amusement. "It's a good thing the
Harlings are friendly with her again. Larry's
afraid of them. They ship so much grain,
they have influence with the railroad people.
What are you studying?" She leaned her el-
bows on the table and drew my book toward
her. I caught a faint odor of violet sachet.
"So that's Latin, is it? It looks hard. You
do go to the theater sometimes, though, for
I've seen you there. Don't you just love a
good play, Jim? I can't stay at home in the
evening if there's one in town. I'd be willing
to work like a slave, it seems to me, to live in
a place where there are theaters."

"Let's go to a show together sometime.
You are going to let me come to see you, are-
n't you?"

"Would you like to? I'd be ever so pleased.
I'm never busy after six o'clock, and I let my
sewing girls go at half-past five. I board, to
save time, but sometimes I cook a chop for
myself, and I'd be glad to cook one for you.

[[304]]

p303 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p304w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p305

v?