THE man and the woman in the alcove¹ on the right had been talking a long while. Three times the waiter had looked in and withdrawn². If he had stopped long enough he would have seen that it seemed to be the woman who was talking. The man sat silent, one hand shading his eyes and the eyes looking out at her as she talked.
 
The waiter knew the woman. He had served her—many times. He remembered very well the first day she came to Merwin’s—a year ago—more than a year, perhaps. She was alone, and she had stood just inside the swinging door—looking about her as if she were not used to places like Merwin’s—or as if she were afraid. Something had made him think that she was looking for some one—and he had shown her into the third alcove on the right. But no one had come that day. She had come again many times since, and always alone, and there was always a coin on the table in the third alcove waiting for him.
 
The waiter was a little disappointed to-day.... He knew the man—Eldridge Walcott—a lawyer—a good enough sort; but the waiter somehow felt that they had not met until today. He had served them both alone—but not together—until to-day.... He pushed aside the curtain and looked in.
 
She was still talking.... The man made a little gesture of refusal, and he withdrew....
 
“It was when Tom sent me the five hundred—” the waiter heard her say as the curtain fell in place.
 
The man in the alcove behind the curtain was looking at her—“When did Tom send you—five hundred?”
 
“A year ago—a little more than a year, I think—” She paused to think it out. “He had not sent us anything, you know—not since little Tom was born—?” She was looking at him, straight——
 
His own look did not flinch³. “I know—I put it into the business—called it investing it—for Tommie—at six per cent.”
 
She nodded. “Tom never liked it. I suppose mother told him—that we had not used it to buy things with—the way he meant us to.”
 
“For things you needed,” said the man. “I know—I knew then—but I took it.” He did not excuse himself—and his eyes did not look away from her. “I was blind,” he said softly.
 
“That was what Tom wrote—when he sent the five hundred. He said that I must spend it on myself—or return it to him.... And that I was to tell him just what I bought with it—every penny of it—” She waited a minute.
 
“Did he say anything else?” asked the man. “Better tell me everything, wouldn’t you—Rosalind?”
 
“He said that he was not setting Eldridge Walcott up in business,” she added after a little minute—and she smiled at him tenderly.
 
Eldridge returned the look—“We don’t mind—now.”
 
“No.”... They were silent a few minutes. “I thought—at first—I would send it back. I wrote to Tom how many things we needed—for the house—and the children—and for everything—”
 
“What did he say?”
 
“He asked me if you would let me spend it for the house and for the children and for everything—if you knew about it?”
 
The man’s eyes were looking at Mr. Eldridge Walcott, regarding him impartially⁴. “I am glad that you did not let me know.”
 
“Yes. I sent it back—once. But Tom wrote again—all about when we were children and when he gave me the biggest bites of candy and filled my pail up to the top when we went berrying——-He said it was what had made a man of him—keeping my pail full.”
 
Eldridge winced⁵ a little. But she did not stop. “He said he wanted me to spend the money for the little girl he knew.
 
“I didn’t spend it—not for a long time, you know. But I kept it and I looked at it—sometimes—and wondered.... Then one day I saw a dress—that I liked. I thought it was like me, a little—?” She looked at him———
 
He nodded.
 
“So I got it—and that was the end, I guess.” She laughed tremulously. “Everything kept coming after that. The dress seemed to make me need— everything!” She spread out her hands.
 
Then she sat thinking—and looking at the dress that needed everything. “I wore it at first just at home—when I was alone. I would put it on and sit down and fold my hands—and think of things... about Tom and about being a little girl—and about mother. I was always rested when I took it off... and when the children came in from school and you came home, I could bear things better.”....
 
He reached out a hand and touched hers where it lay on the table.... He had said that he should touch it—some time. He stroked it a minute and she went on.
 
“Then I came here—” She made a little gesture. “I didn’t know what it was like—I didn’t even know there was a place like this.” She glanced around the alcove that sheltered them—with its folds of green curtain—“But as soon as I came, I knew I should come again. I knew it would take care of me—the way Tom wanted for me. So I spent the money.” She lifted the little linked purse from the table—she laughed. “Only fifty cents left—You ’re here just in time!”
 
Eldridge held out his hand. “Give it to me.”
 
She looked at him.
 
“I want it—yes. Aren’t you willing to give me fifty cents—of your five hundred?”
 
She handed it to him with a little sigh of relief.
 
He took it and balanced it thoughtfully in his hand&m............