And here"—he reached for his purse and took from it a hundred dollars, practically all he had with him, "take that. I'll send you more tomorrow.
You're my girl now—remember that. You belong to me."
He embraced her tenderly.
She went out into the night, thinking.
No doubt he would do as he said.
She dwelt, in imagination, upon the possibilities of a new and fascinating existence.
Of course he would marry her.
Think of it!
She would go to Washington—that far-off place.
And her father and mother—they would not need to work so hard any more.
And Bass, and Martha—she fairly glowed as she recounted to herself the many ways in which she could help them all.
A block away she waited for Brander, who accompanied her to her own gate, and waited while she made a cautious reconnaissance. She slipped up the steps and tried the door.
It was open.
She paused a moment to indicate to her lover that she was safe, and entered.
All was silent within.
She slipped to her own room and heard Veronica breathing.
She went quietly to where Bass slept with George.
He was in bed, stretched out as if asleep.
When she entered he asked,
"Is that you, Jennie?"
"Yes."
"Where have you been?"
"Listen," she whispered. "Have you seen papa and mamma?"
"Yes."
"Did they know I had gone out?"
"Ma did.
She told me not to ask after you.
Where have you been?"
"I went to see Senator Brander for you."
"Oh, that was it.
They didn't say why they let me out."
"Don't tell any one," she pleaded.
"I don't want any one to know.
You know how papa feels about him."
"All right," he replied.
But he was curious as to what the ex-Senator thought, what he had done, and how she had appealed to him.
She explained briefly, then she heard her mother come to the door.
"Jennie," she whispered.
Jennie went out.
"Oh, why did you go?" she asked.
"I couldn't help it, ma," she replied.
"I thought I must do something."
"Why did you stay so long?"
"He wanted to talk to me," she answered evasively.
Her mother looked at her nervously, wanly.
"I have been so afraid, oh, so afraid.
Your father went to your room, but I said you were asleep.
He locked the front door, but I opened it again.
When Bass came in he wanted to call you, but I persuaded him to wait until morning."
Again she looked wistfully at her daughter.