Peregrinations

Instead of going to the other girls and frankly confessing that
she could not afford the prices they were paying, she watched her
chance, picked up her telescope and hurried down the street,
walking swiftly until she was out of sight of the house. Then she
began inquiring her way to Butler Street and after a long, hot
walk, found the place. The rooms and board were very poor, but
Kate felt that she could endure whatever Nancy Ellen had, so she
unpacked, and went to the Normal School to register and learn what
she would need. On coming from the building she saw that she
would be forced to pass close by the group of girls she had
deserted and this was made doubly difficult because she could see
that they were talking about her. Then she understood how foolish
she had been and as she was struggling to summon courage to
explain to them she caught these words plainly: "Who is going to ask her for it?"

"I am," said the girl who had sat beside Kate on the train. "I
don't propose to pay it myself!"

Then she came directly to Kate and said briefly: "Fifty cents,
please!"

"For what?" stammered Kate.

"Your luggage. You changed your boarding place in such a hurry
you forgot to settle, and as I made the arrangement, I had to pay
it."

"Do please excuse me," said Kate. "I was so bewildered, I
forgot."

"Certainly!" said the girl and Kate dropped the money into the
extended hand and hurried past, her face scorched red with shame,
for one of them had said: "That's a good one! I wouldn't have
thought it of her."