XIII + 

For a period of four months at least this was exactly the way it worked out. After meeting her in this fashion, he was devoting not an inconsiderable portion of his free time to attempting to interest her to the point where she would take as much interest in him as she appeared to take in others. At the same time he could not tell whether she could be made to entertain a singular affection for anyone. Nor could he believe that there was only an innocent camaraderie involved in all this. Yet she was so enticing that he was deliriously moved by the thought that if his worst suspicions were true, she might ultimately favor him. So captivated was he by this savor of sensuality and varietism that was about her, the stigmata of desire manifest in her gestures, moods, voice, the way she dressed, that he could not think of relinquishing her. + 

Rather, he foolishly ran after her. And seeing this, she put him off, at times evaded him, compelled him to content himself with little more than the crumbs of her company, while at the same time favoring him with descriptions or pictures of other activities and contacts which made him feel as though he could no longer endure to merely trail her in this fashion. It was then he would announce to himself in anger that he was not going to see her any more. She was no good to him, really. But on seeing her again, a cold indifference in everything she said and did, his courage failed him and he could not think of severing the tie. + 

She was not at all backward at the same time in speaking of things that she needed or would like to haveвБ†вАФlittle things, at firstвБ†вАФa new powder puff, a lip stick, a box of powder or a bottle of perfume. Later, and without having yielded anything more to Clyde than a few elusive and evasive endearmentsвБ†вАФintimate and languorous reclinings in his arms which promised much but always came to nothingвБ†вАФshe made so bold as to indicate to him at different times and in different ways, purses, blouses, slippers, stockings, a hat, which she would like to buy if only she had the money. And he, in order to hold her favor and properly ingratiate himself, proceeded to buy them, though at times and because of some other developments in connection with his family, it pressed him hard to do so. And yet, as he was beginning to see toward the end of the fourth month, he was apparently little farther advanced in her favor than he had been in the beginning. In short, he was conducting a feverish and almost painful pursuit without any definite promise of reward. + 

In the meantime, in so far as his home ties went, the irritations and the depressions which were almost inextricably involved with membership in the Griffiths family were not different from what they had ever been. For, following the disappearance of Esta, there had settled a period of dejection which still endured. Only, in so far as Clyde was concerned, it was complicated with a mystery which was tantalizing and something moreвБ†вАФirritating; for when it came to anything which related to sex in the Griffiths family, no parents could possibly have been more squeamish. + 

And especially did this apply to the mystery which had now surrounded Esta for some time. She had gone. She had not returned. And so far as Clyde and the others knew, no word of any kind had been received from her. However, Clyde had noted that after the first few weeks of her absence, during which time both his mother and father had been most intensely wrought up and troubled, worrying greatly as to her whereabouts and why she did not write, suddenly they had ceased their worries, and had become very much more resignedвБ†вАФat least not so tortured by a situation that previously had seemed to offer no hope whatsoever. He could not explain it. It was quite noticeable, and yet nothing was said. And then one day a little later, Clyde had occasion to note that his mother was in communication with someone by mailвБ†вАФsomething rare for her. For so few were her social or business connections that she rarely received or wrote a letter. + 

One day, however, very shortly after he had connected himself with the Green-Davidson, he had come in rather earlier than usual in the afternoon and found his mother bending over a letter which evidently had just arrived and which appeared to interest her greatly. Also it seemed to be connected with something which required concealment. For, on seeing him, she stopped reading at once, and, flustered and apparently nervous, arose and put the letter away without commenting in any way upon what she had been doing. But Clyde for some reason, intuition perhaps, had the thought that it might be from Esta. He was not sure. And he was too far away to detect the character of the handwriting. But whatever it was, his mother said nothing afterwards concerning it. She looked as though she did not want him to inquire, and so reserved were their relations that he would not have thought of inquiring. He merely wondered, and then dismissed it partially, but not entirely, from his mind. + 

A month or five weeks after this, and just about the time that he was becoming comparatively well-schooled in his work at the Green-Davidson, and was beginning to interest himself in Hortense Briggs, his mother came to him one afternoon with a very peculiar proposition for her. Without explaining what it was for, or indicating directly that now she felt that he might be in a better position to help her, she called him into the mission hall when he came in from work and, looking at him rather fixedly and nervously for her, said: вАЬYou wouldnвАЩt know, Clyde, would you, how I could raise a hundred dollars right away?вАЭ + 

Clyde was so astonished that he could scarcely believe his ears, for only a few weeks before the mere mention of any sum above four or five dollars in connection with him would have been preposterous. His mother knew that. Yet here she was asking him and apparently assuming that he might be able to assist her in this way. And rightly, for both his clothes and his general air had indicated a period of better days for him. + 

At the same time his first thought was, of course, that she had observed his clothes and goings-on and was convinced that he was deceiving her about the amount he earned. And in part this was true, only so changed was ClydeвАЩs manner of late, that his mother had been compelled to take a very different attitude toward him and was beginning to be not a little dubious as to her further control over him. Recently, or since he had secured this latest place, for some reason he had seemed to her to have grown wiser, more assured, less dubious of himself, inclined to go his own way and keep his own counsel. And while this had troubled her not a little in one sense, it rather pleased her in another. For to see Clyde, who had always seemed because of his sensitiveness and unrest so much of a problem to her, developing in this very interesting way was something; though at times, and in view of his very recent finery, she had been wondering and troubled as to the nature of the company he might be keeping. But since his hours were so long and so absorbing, and whatever money he made appeared to be going into clothes, she felt that she had no real reason to complain. Her one other thought was that perhaps he was beginning to act a little selfishвБ†вАФto think too much of his own comfortвБ†вАФand yet in the face of his long deprivations she could not very well begrudge him any temporary pleasure, either. + 

Clyde, not being sure of her real attitude, merely looked at her and exclaimed: вАЬWhy, where would I get a hundred dollars, Ma?вАЭ He had visions of his newfound source of wealth being dissipated by such unheard of and inexplicable demands as this, and distress and distrust at once showed on his countenance. + 

вАЬI didnвАЩt expect that you could get it all for me,вАЭ Mrs.¬†Griffiths suggested tactfully. вАЬI have a plan to raise the most of it, I think. But I did want you to help me try to think how I would raise the rest. I didnвАЩt want to go to your father with this if I could help it, and youвАЩre getting old enough now to be of some help.вАЭ She looked at Clyde approvingly and interestedly enough. вАЬYour father is such a poor hand at business,вАЭ she went on, вАЬand he gets so worried at times.вАЭ + 

She passed a large and weary hand over her face and Clyde was moved by her predicament, whatever it was. At the same time, apart from whether he was willing to part with so much or not, or had it to give, he was decidedly curious about what all this was for. A hundred dollars! Gee whiz! + 

After a moment or two, his mother added: вАЬIвАЩll tell you what IвАЩve been thinking. I must have a hundred dollars, but I canвАЩt tell you for what now, you nor anyone, and you mustnвАЩt ask me. ThereвАЩs an old gold watch of your fatherвАЩs in my desk and a solid gold ring and pin of mine. Those things ought to be worth twenty-five dollars at least, if they were sold or pawned. Then there is that set of solid silver knives and forks and that silver platter and pitcher in thereвАЭвБ†вАФClyde knew the keepsakes wellвБ†вАФвАЬthat platter alone is worth twenty-five dollars. I believe they ought to bring at least twenty or twenty-five together. I was thinking if I could get you to go to some good pawnshop with them down near where you work, and then if you would let me have five more a week for a whileвАЭ (ClydeвАЩs countenance fell)вБ†вАФвАЬI could get a friend of mineвБ†вАФMr.¬†Murch who comes here, you knowвБ†вАФto advance me enough to make up the hundred, and then I could pay him back out of what you pay me. I have about ten dollars myself.вАЭ + 

She looked at Clyde as much as to say: вАЬNow, surely, you wonвАЩt desert me in my hour of trouble,вАЭ and Clyde relaxed, in spite of the fact that he had been counting upon using quite all that he earned for himself. In fact, he agreed to take the trinkets to the pawnshop, and to advance her five more for the time being until the difference between whatever the trinkets brought and one hundred dollars was made up. And yet in spite of himself, he could not help resenting this extra strain, for it had only been a very short time that he had been earning so much. And here was his mother demanding more and more, as he saw itвБ†вАФten dollars a week now. Always something wrong, thought Clyde, always something needed, and with no assurance that there would not be more such demands later. + 

He took the trinkets, carried them to the most presentable pawnshop he could find, and being offered forty-five dollars for the lot, took it. This, with his motherвАЩs ten, would make fifty-five, and with forty-five she could borrow from Mr.¬†Murch, would make a hundred. Only now, as he saw, it would mean that for nine weeks he would have to give her ten dollars instead of five. And that, in view of his present aspirations to dress, live and enjoy himself in a way entirely different from what he previously considered necessary, was by no means a pleasure to contemplate. Nevertheless he decided to do it. After all he owed his mother something. She had made many sacrifices for him and the others in days past and he could not afford to be too selfish. It was not decent. + 

But the most enduring thought that now came to him was that if his mother and father were going to look to him for financial aid, they should be willing to show him more consideration than had previously been shown him. For one thing he ought to be allowed to come and go with more freedom, in so far as his night hours were concerned. And at the same time he was clothing himself and eating his meals at the hotel, and that was no small item, as he saw it. + 

However, there was another problem that had soon arisen and it was this. Not so long after the matter of the hundred dollars, he encountered his mother in Montrose Street, one of the poorest streets which ran north from Bickel, and which consisted entirely of two unbroken lines of wooden houses and two-story flats and many unfurnished apartments. Even the Griffiths, poor as they were, would have felt themselves demeaned by the thought of having to dwell in such a street. His mother was coming down the front steps of one of the less tatterdemalion houses of this row, a lower front window of which carried a very conspicuous card which read вАЬFurnished Rooms.вАЭ And then, without turning or seeing Clyde across the street, she proceeded to another house a few doors away, which also carried a furnished rooms card and, after surveying the exterior interestedly, mounted the steps and rang the bell. + 

ClydeвАЩs first impression was that she was seeking the whereabouts of some individual in whom she was interested and of whose address she was not certain. But crossing over to her at about the moment the proprietress of the house put her head out of the door, he heard his mother say: вАЬYou have a room for rent?вАЭ вАЬYes.вАЭ вАЬHas it a bath?вАЭ вАЬNo, but thereвАЩs a bath on the second floor.вАЭ вАЬHow much is it a week?вАЭ вАЬFour dollars.вАЭ вАЬCould I see it?вАЭ вАЬYes, just step in.вАЭ + 

Mrs.¬†Griffiths appeared to hesitate while Clyde stood below, not twenty-five feet away, and looked up at her, waiting for her to turn and recognize him. But she stepped in without turning. And Clyde gazed after her curiously, for while it was by no means inconceivable that his mother might be looking for a room for someone, yet why should she be looking for it in this street when as a rule she usually dealt with the Salvation Army or the Young WomenвАЩs Christian Association. His first impulse was to wait and inquire of her what she was doing here, but being interested in several errands of his own, he went on. + 

That night, returning to his own home to dress and seeing his mother in the kitchen, he said to her: вАЬI saw you this morning, Ma, in Montrose Street.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes,вАЭ his mother replied, after a moment, but not before he had noticed that she had started suddenly as though taken aback by this information. She was paring potatoes and looked at him curiously. вАЬWell, what of it?вАЭ she added, calmly, but flushing just the sameвБ†вАФa thing decidedly unusual in connection with her where he was concerned. Indeed, that start of surprise interested and arrested Clyde. + 

вАЬYou were going into a house thereвБ†вАФlooking for a furnished room, I guess.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, I was,вАЭ replied Mrs.¬†Griffiths, simply enough now. вАЬI need a room for someone who is sick and hasnвАЩt much money, but itвАЩs not so easy to find either.вАЭ She turned away as though she were not disposed to discuss this any more, and Clyde, while sensing her mood, apparently, could not resist adding: вАЬGee, thatвАЩs not much of a street to have a room in.вАЭ His new work at the Green-Davidson had already caused him to think differently of how one should liveвБ†вАФanyone. She did not answer him and he went to his room to change his clothes. + 

A month or so after this, coming east on Missouri Avenue late one evening, he again saw his mother in the near distance coming west. In the light of one of the small stores which ranged in a row on this street, he saw that she was carrying a rather heavy old-fashioned bag, which had long been about the house but had never been much used by anyone. On sight of him approaching (as he afterwards decided) she had stopped suddenly and turned into a hallway of a three-story brick apartment building, and when he came up to it, he found the outside door was shut. He opened it, and saw a flight of steps dimly lit, up which she might have gone. However, he did not trouble to investigate, for he was uncertain, once he reached this place, whether she had gone to call on someone or not, it had all happened so quickly. But waiting at the next corner, he finally saw her come out again. And then to his increasing curiosity, she appeared to look cautiously about before proceeding as before. It was this that caused him to think that she must have been endeavoring to conceal herself from him. But why? + 

His first impulse was to turn and follow her, so interested was he by her strange movements. But he decided later that if she did not want him to know what she was doing, perhaps it was best that he should not. At the same time he was made intensely curious by this evasive gesture. Why should his mother not wish him to see her carrying a bag anywhere? Evasion and concealment formed no part of her real disposition (so different from his own). Almost instantly his mind proceeded to join this coincidence with the time he had seen her descending the steps of the rooming house in Montrose Street, together with the business of the letter he had found her reading, and the money she had been compelled to raiseвБ†вАФthe hundred dollars. Where could she be going? What was she hiding? + 

He speculated on all this, but he could not decide whether it had any definite connection with him or any member of the family until about a week later, when, passing along Eleventh near Baltimore, he thought he saw Esta, or at least a girl so much like her that she would be taken for her anywhere. She had the same height, and she was moving along as Esta used to walk. Only, now he thought as he saw her, she looked older. Yet, so quickly had she come and gone in the mass of people that he had not been able to make sure. It was only a glance, but on the strength of it, he had turned and sought to catch up with her, but upon reaching the spot she was gone. So convinced was he, however, that he had seen her that he went straight home, and, encountering his mother in the mission, announced that he was positive he had seen Esta. She must be back in Kansas City again. He could have sworn to it. He had seen her near Eleventh and Baltimore, or thought he had. Had his mother heard anything from her? + 

And then curiously enough he observed that his motherвАЩs manner was not exactly what he thought it should have been under the circumstances. His own attitude had been one of commingled astonishment, pleasure, curiosity and sympathy because of the sudden disappearance and now sudden reappearance of Esta. Could it be that his mother had used that hundred dollars to bring her back? The thought had come to himвБ†вАФwhy or from where, he could not say. He wondered. But if so, why had she not returned to her home, at least to notify the family of her presence here? + 

He expected his mother would be as astonished and puzzled as he wasвБ†вАФquick and curious for details. Instead, she appeared to him to be obviously confused and taken aback by this information, as though she was hearing about something that she already knew and was puzzled as to just what her attitude should be. + 

вАЬOh, did you? Where? Just now, you say? At Eleventh and Baltimore? Well, isnвАЩt that strange? I must speak to Asa about this. ItвАЩs strange that she wouldnвАЩt come here if she is back.вАЭ Her eyes, as he saw, instead of looking astonished, looked puzzled, disturbed. Her mouth, always the case when she was a little embarrassed and disconcerted, worked oddlyвБ†вАФnot only the lips but the jaw itself. + 

вАЬWell, well,вАЭ she added, after a pause. вАЬThat is strange. Perhaps it was just someone who looked like her.вАЭ + 

But Clyde, watching her out of the corner of his eye, could not believe that she was as astonished as she pretended. And, thereafter, Asa coming in, and Clyde not having as yet departed for the hotel, he heard them discussing the matter in some strangely inattentive and unillumined way, as if it was not quite as startling as it had seemed to him. And for some time he was not called in to explain what he had seen. + 

And then, as if purposely to solve this mystery for him, he encountered his mother one day passing along Spruce Street, this time carrying a small basket on her arm. She had, as he had noticed of late, taken to going out regularly mornings and afternoons or evenings. On this occasion, and long before she had had an opportunity to see him, he had discerned her peculiarly heavy figure draped in the old brown coat which she always wore, and had turned into Myrkel Street and waited for her to pass, a convenient news stand offering him shelter. Once she had passed, he dropped behind her, allowing her to precede him by half a block. And at Dalrymple, she crossed to Beaudry, which was really a continuation of Spruce, but not so ugly. The houses were quite oldвБ†вАФquondam residences of an earlier day, but now turned into boarding and rooming houses. Into one of these he saw her enter and disappear, but before doing so she looked inquiringly about her. + 

After she had entered, Clyde approached the house and studied it with great interest. What was his mother doing in there? Who was it she was going to see? He could scarcely have explained his intense curiosity to himself, and yet, since having thought that he had seen Esta on the street, he had an unconvinced feeling that it might have something to do with her. There were the letters, the one hundred dollars, the furnished room in Montrose Street. + 

Diagonally across the way from the house in Beaudry Street there was a large-trunked tree, leafless now in the winter wind, and near it a telegraph pole, close enough to make a joint shadow with it. And behind these he was able to stand unseen, and from this vantage point to observe the several windows, side and front and ground and second floor. Through one of the front windows above, he saw his mother moving about as though she were quite at home there. And a moment later, to his astonishment he saw Esta come to one of their two windows and put a package down on the sill. She appeared to have on only a light dressing gown or a wrap drawn about her shoulders. He was not mistaken this time. He actually started as he realized that it was she, also that his mother was in there with her. And yet what had she done that she must come back and hide away in this manner? Had her husband, the man she had run away with, deserted her? + 

He was so intensely curious that he decided to wait a while outside here to see if his mother might not come out, and then he himself would call on Esta. He wanted so much to see her againвБ†вАФto know what this mystery was all about. He waited, thinking how he had always liked Esta and how strange it was that she should be here, hiding away in this mysterious way. + 

After an hour, his mother came out, her basket apparently empty, for she held it lightly in her hand. And just as before, she looked cautiously about her, her face wearing that same stolid and yet care-stamped expression which it always wore these daysвБ†вАФa cross between an uplifting faith and a troublesome doubt. + 

Clyde watched her as she proceeded to walk south on Beaudry Street toward the Mission. After she was well out of sight, he turned and entered the house. Inside, as he had surmised, he found a collection of furnished rooms, name plates some of which bore the names of the roomers pasted upon them. Since he knew that the southeast front room upstairs contained Esta, he proceeded there and knocked. And true enough, a light footstep responded within, and presently, after some little delay which seemed to suggest some quick preparation within, the door opened slightly and Esta peeped outвБ†вАФquizzically at first, then with a little cry of astonishment and some confusion. For, as inquiry and caution disappeared, she realized that she was looking at Clyde. At once she opened the door wide. + 

вАЬWhy, Clyde,вАЭ she called. вАЬHow did you come to find me? I was just thinking of you.вАЭ + 

Clyde at once put his arms around her and kissed her. At the same time he realized, and with a slight sense of shock and dissatisfaction, that she was considerably changed. She was thinnerвБ†вАФpalerвБ†вАФher eyes almost sunken, and not any better dressed than when he had seen her last. She appeared nervous and depressed. One of the first thoughts that came to him now was where her husband was. Why wasnвАЩt he here? What had become of him? As he looked about and at her, he noticed that EstaвАЩs look was one of confusion and uncertainty, not unmixed with a little satisfaction at seeing him. Her mouth was partly open because of a desire to smile and to welcome him, but her eyes showed that she was contending with a problem. + 

вАЬI didnвАЩt expect you here,вАЭ she added, quickly, the moment he released her. вАЬYou didnвАЩt seeвБ†вАФвАЭ Then she paused, catching herself at the brink of some information which evidently she didnвАЩt wish to impart. + 

вАЬYes, I did, tooвБ†вАФI saw Ma,вАЭ he replied. вАЬThatвАЩs how I came to know you were here. I saw her coming out just now and I saw you up here through the window.вАЭ (He did not care to confess that he had been following and watching his mother for an hour.) вАЬBut when did you get back?вАЭ he went on. вАЬItвАЩs a wonder you wouldnвАЩt let the rest of us know something about you. Gee, youвАЩre a dandy, you areвБ†вАФgoing away and staying months and never letting any one of us know anything. You might have written me a little something, anyhow. We always got along pretty well, didnвАЩt we?вАЭ + 

His glance was quizzical, curious, imperative. She, for her part, felt recessive and thence evasiveвБ†вАФuncertain, quite, what to think or say or tell. + 

She uttered: вАЬI couldnвАЩt think who it might be. No one comes here. But, my, how nice you look, Clyde. YouвАЩve got such nice clothes, now. And youвАЩre getting taller. Mamma was telling me you are working at the Green-Davidson.вАЭ + 

She looked at him admiringly and he was properly impressed by her notice of him. At the same time he could not get his mind off her condition. He could not cease looking at her face, her eyes, her thin-fat body. And as he looked at her waist and her gaunt face, he came to a very keen realization that all was not well with her. She was going to have a child. And hence the thought recurred to himвБ†вАФwhere was her husbandвБ†вАФor at any rate, the man she had eloped with. Her original note, according to her mother, had said that she was going to get married. Yet now he sensed quite clearly that she was not married. She was deserted, left in this miserable room here alone. He saw it, felt it, understood it. + 

And he thought at once that this was typical of all that seemed to occur in his family. Here he was just getting a start, trying to be somebody and get along in the world and have a good time. And here was Esta, after her first venture in the direction of doing something for herself, coming to such a finish as this. It made him a little sick and resentful. + 

вАЬHow long have you been back, Esta?вАЭ he repeated dubiously, scarcely knowing just what to say now, for now that he was here and she was as she was he began to scent expense, trouble, distress and to wish almost that he had not been so curious. Why need he have been? It could only mean that he must help. + 

вАЬOh, not so very long, Clyde. About a month, now, I guess. Not more than that.вАЭ + 

вАЬI thought so. I saw you up on Eleventh near Baltimore about a month ago, didnвАЩt I? Sure I did,вАЭ he added a little less joyouslyвБ†вАФa change that Esta noted. At the same time she nodded her head affirmatively. вАЬI knew I did. I told Ma so at the time, but she didnвАЩt seem to think so. She wasnвАЩt as surprised as I thought she would be, though. I know why, now. She acted as though she didnвАЩt want me to tell her about it either. But I knew I wasnвАЩt wrong.вАЭ He stared at Esta oddly, quite proud of his prescience in this case. He paused though, not knowing quite what else to say and wondering whether what he had just said was of any sense or import. It didnвАЩt seem to suggest any real aid for her. + 

And she, not quite knowing how to pass over the nature of her condition, or to confess it, either, was puzzled what to say. Something had to be done. For Clyde could see for himself that her predicament was dreadful. She could scarcely bear the look of his inquiring eyes. And more to extricate herself than her mother, she finally observed, вАЬPoor Mamma. You mustnвАЩt think it strange of her, Clyde. She doesnвАЩt know what to do, you see, really. ItвАЩs all my fault, of course. If I hadnвАЩt run away, I wouldnвАЩt have caused her all this trouble. She has so little to do with and sheвАЩs always had such a hard time.вАЭ She turned her back to him suddenly, and her shoulders began to tremble and her sides to heave. She put her hands to her face and bent her head lowвБ†вАФand then he knew that she was silently crying. + 

вАЬOh, come now, sis,вАЭ exclaimed Clyde, drawing near to her instantly and feeling intensely sorry for her at the moment. вАЬWhatвАЩs the matter? What do you want to cry for? DidnвАЩt that man that you went away with marry you?вАЭ + 

She shook her head negatively and sobbed the more. And in that instant there came to Clyde the real psychological as well as sociological and biological import of his sisterвАЩs condition. She was in trouble, pregnantвБ†вАФand with no money and no husband. That was why his mother had been looking for a room. That was why she had tried to borrow a hundred dollars from him. She was ashamed of Esta and her condition. She was ashamed of not only what people outside the family would think, but of what he and Julia and Frank might thinkвБ†вАФthe effect of EstaвАЩs condition upon them perhapsвБ†вАФbecause it was not right, unmoral, as people saw it. And for that reason she had been trying to conceal it, telling stories about itвБ†вАФa most amazing and difficult thing for her, no doubt. And yet, because of poor luck, she hadnвАЩt succeeded very well. + 

And now he was again confused and puzzled, not only by his sisterвАЩs condition and what it meant to him and the other members of the family here in Kansas City, but also by his motherвАЩs disturbed and somewhat unmoral attitude in regard to deception in this instance. She had evaded if not actually deceived him in regard to all this, for she knew Esta was here all the time. At the same time he was not inclined to be too unsympathetic in that respect toward herвБ†вАФfar from it. For such deception in such an instance had to be, no doubt, even where people were as religious and truthful as his mother, or so he thought. You couldnвАЩt just let people know. He certainly wouldnвАЩt want to let people know about Esta, if he could help it. What would they think? What would they say about her and him? WasnвАЩt the general state of his family low enough, as it was? And so, now he stood, staring and puzzled the while Esta cried. And she realizing that he was puzzled and ashamed, because of her, cried the more. + 

вАЬGee, that is tough,вАЭ said Clyde, troubled, and yet fairly sympathetic after a time. вАЬYou wouldnвАЩt have run away with him unless you cared for him thoughвБ†вАФwould you?вАЭ (He was thinking of himself and Hortense Briggs.) вАЬIвАЩm sorry for you, Ess. Sure, I am, but it wonвАЩt do you any good to cry about it now, will it? ThereвАЩs lots of other fellows in the world beside him. YouвАЩll come out of it all right.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, I know,вАЭ sobbed Esta, вАЬbut IвАЩve been so foolish. And IвАЩve had such a hard time. And now IвАЩve brought all this trouble on Mamma and all of you.вАЭ She choked and hushed a moment. вАЬHe went off and left me in a hotel in Pittsburgh without any money,вАЭ she added. вАЬAnd if it hadnвАЩt been for Mamma, I donвАЩt know what I would have done. She sent me a hundred dollars when I wrote her. I worked for a while in a restaurantвБ†вАФas long as I could. I didnвАЩt want to write home and say that he had left me. I was ashamed to. But I didnвАЩt know what else to do there toward the last, when I began feeling so bad.вАЭ + 

She began to cry again; and Clyde, realizing all that his mother had done and sought to do to assist her, felt almost as sorry now for his mother as he did for EstaвБ†вАФmore so, for Esta had her mother to look after her and his mother had almost no one to help her. + 

вАЬI canвАЩt work yet, because I wonвАЩt be able to for a while,вАЭ she went on. вАЬAnd Mamma doesnвАЩt want me to come home now because she doesnвАЩt want Julia or Frank or you to know. And thatвАЩs right, too, I know. Of course it is. And she hasnвАЩt got anything and I havenвАЩt. And I get so lonely here, sometimes.вАЭ Her eyes filled and she began to choke again. вАЬAnd IвАЩve been so foolish.вАЭ + 

And Clyde felt for the moment as though he could cry too. For life was so strange, so hard at times. See how it had treated him all these years. He had had nothing until recently and always wanted to run away. But Esta had done so, and see what had befallen her. And somehow he recalled her between the tall walls of the big buildings here in the business district, sitting at his fatherвАЩs little street organ and singing and looking so innocent and good. Gee, life was tough. What a rough world it was anyhow. How queer things went! + 

He looked at her and the room, and finally, telling her that she wouldnвАЩt be left alone, and that he would come again, only she mustnвАЩt tell his mother he had been there, and that if she needed anything she could call on him although he wasnвАЩt making so very much, eitherвБ†вАФand then went out. And then, walking toward the hotel to go to work, he kept dwelling on the thought of how miserable it all wasвБ†вАФhow sorry he was that he had followed his mother, for then he might not have known. But even so, it would have come out. His mother could not have concealed it from him indefinitely. She would have asked for more money eventually maybe. But what a dog that man was to go off and leave his sister in a big strange city without a dime. He puzzled, thinking now of the girl who had been deserted in the Green-Davidson some months before with a room and board bill unpaid. And how comic it had seemed to him and the other boys at the timeвБ†вАФhighly colored with a sensual interest in it. + 

But this, well, this was his own sister. A man had thought so little of his sister as that. And yet, try as he would, he could no longer think that it was as terrible as when he heard her crying in the room. Here was this brisk, bright city about him running with people and effort, and this gay hotel in which he worked. That was not so bad. Besides there was his own love affair, Hortense, and pleasures. There must be some way out for Esta. She would get well again and be all right. But to think of his being part of a family that was always so poor and so little thought of that things like this could happen to itвБ†вАФone thing and anotherвБ†вАФlike street preaching, not being able to pay the rent at times, his father selling rugs and clocks for a living on the streetsвБ†вАФEsta running away and coming to an end like this. Gee! + 