"Do you think he'll--understand, Ann?"

"He'll be a fool if he doesn't!"

"And make allowances? He knows how poor we are and how busy I have to
be."

"He does so, my dear. But, if it's goin' t' comfort you any, there's
that corset cover you made me last Christmas. I ain't never wore it;
I ain't dared to with all them trimmin's an' lace insertion, an' me s'
bony here an' there. You can have it an' willin', my dear, an' then
there's them--"

"Ann, you dear thing, as if I would!"

"Why not? That corset cover's a dream! An' then there's them--"

"Dear, I couldn't--I wouldn't! No, I'll go to him just as I am--he
shall marry me just like I am--"

"An' that's a goddess!" nodded Mrs. Trapes, "yes, a young goddess--only,
with more clo'es on, o' course. I'm glad as he's quit peanuts; peanut
men don't kind o' jibe in with goddesses."

"Ann," said Hermione, sitting back on her heels, "I think of him a great
deal, of course, and--just lately--I've begun to wonder--"

"My dear," said Mrs. Trapes, blowing her tea, "so do I! I been wonderin'
ever since he walked into my flat, cool as I don't know what, an', my