This was a question Mrs. Toomey could answer truthfully and she did, with convincing sincerity: "No, I don't!"
"I knew it!" There was a joyous note in Kate's voice, and gratitude. "I was sure you were true-blue, and I know I'm going to love you!"
Lifting the woman to her feet, with an arm about her shoulders, Kate kissed her impulsively. She was so slight, so crushable, that Kate experienced a sense of shock as one does when he feels the bones of a little bird through its feathers. Her frailty appealed to something within the girl that was like masculine chivalry, awakening a desire that was keener than ever to protect and help her, while, as before, Mrs. Toomey felt the magnetism of the younger woman's health and strength and courage. Nevertheless, she was panic-stricken at what Kate was taking for granted and her quick little mind was darting about like some frightened rodent from corner to corner, thinking how she was going to disentangle herself from the situation with the minimum of hurt to the girl's feelings.
There was a suggestion of her former buoyancy in Kate's manner. Her eyes had something of their old-time sparkle as she reached inside the blousing front of her flannel shirt and laid in Mrs. Toomey's hand a packet of crisp banknotes secured by bands of elastic.
"You see--I've kept my promise."
Mrs. Toomey stood motionless, staring.
"Why! Where did you get it?" when speech came back to her.
"That's my secret," Kate replied, gently. "But it's yours to use as long as you need it."
Without warning, Mrs. Toomey burst into tears.
"I c-can't help it!" she sobbed on Kate's shoulder. "It's so--unexpected."
Relief was paramount to all other emotions, but she vowed as she wept that she would show her gratitude, and would be Kate's friend as she had promised, and she would--the feeling of the money in her hand gave her courage--defy Prissy Pantin, if necessary.
Kate and Mrs. Toomey separated with the warm handclasp of friendship.
Mrs. Toomey waited in a tremulous state of eagerness for her husband's return. It was months since she had known such a feeling of relief; it was as though years suddenly had dropped from her. She went about the house humming, trying to decide upon the most effective way of surprising him, and planning how she would spend the money to derive the most good from it. At intervals she opened the top drawer of the bureau and looked at the banknotes to be sure she was not dreaming. They would pay a little on their most urgent bills, to show their good intentions, and then buy supplies enough to render impossible any such experiences as those they had undergone recently. A goodly portion would be kept for emergencies until Jap got into something.