第34章

"Yes, indeed," assented Susan."I wonder where I could leave my bundle for a while.I'm a stranger and I want to look for a boarding house.""You might leave it here with me," said the young man."That's about our biggest line of trade--that and postage stamps and telephone--_and_ the directory." He laughed heartily.Susan did not see why; she did not like the sound, either, for the young man's deformity of lower jaw deformed his laughter as well as his speech.However, she smiled politely and ate and drank her soda slowly.

"I'll be glad to take care of your bundle," the young man said presently."Ever been here before?""No," said Susan."That is, not since I was about four years old.""I was four," said the young man, "when a horse stepped on my mouth in the street.""My, how dreadful!" exclaimed Susan.

"You can see some of the scar yet," the young man assured her, and he pointed to his curiously sunken mouth."The doctors said it was the most remarkable case of the kind on record,"continued he proudly."That was what led me into the medical line.You don't seem to have your boarding house picked.""I was going to look in the papers."

"That's dangerous--especially for a young lady.Some of them boarding houses--well, they're no better'n they ought to be.""I don't suppose you know of any?"

"My aunt keeps one.And she's got a vacancy, it being summer.""I'm afraid it'd be too expensive for me," said Susan, to feel her way.

The young man was much flattered.But he said, "Oh, it ain't so toppy.I think you could make a deal with her for five per."Susan looked inquiring.

"Five a week--room and board."

"I might stand that," said Susan reflectively.Then, deciding for complete confidence, "I'm looking for work, too.""What line?"

"Oh, I never tried anything.I thought maybe dressmaking or millinery.""Mighty poor season for jobs.The times are bad, anyhow." He was looking at her with kindly curiosity."If I was you, I'd go back home--and wait."Susan shrank within herself."I can't do that," she said.

The young man thought awhile, then said: "If you should go to my aunt's, you can say Mr.Ellison sent you.No, that ain't me.

It's the boss.You see, a respectable boarding house asks for references."Susan colored deeply and her gaze slowly sank."I didn't know that," she murmured.

"Don't be afraid.Aunt Kate ain't so particular--leastways, not in summer when things is slow.And I know you're quiet."By the time the soda was finished, the young man--who said his name was Robert Wylie--had written on the back of Ellison's business card in a Spencerian hand: "Mrs.Kate Wylie, 347 West Sixth Street." He explained that Susan was to walk up two squares and take the car going west; the conductor would let her off at the right place."You'd better leave your things here,"said Mr.Wylie, holding up the card so that they could admire his penmanship together."You may not hit it off with Aunt Kate.

Don't think you've got to stay there just because of me.""I'm sure I'll like it," Susan declared confidently.Her spirits were high; she felt that she was in a strong run of luck.

Wylie lifted her package over the counter and went to the door with her to point out the direction."This is Fourth.The next up is Fifth.The next wide one is Sixth--and you can read it on the lamp-post, too.""Isn't that convenient!" exclaimed Susan."What a lovely city this is!""There's worse," said Mr.Wylie, not to seem vain of his native town.

They shook hands most friendly and she set out in the direction he had indicated.She was much upset by the many vehicles and the confusion, but she did her best to seem at ease and at home.

She watched a girl walking ahead of her--a shopgirl who seemed well-dressed and stylish, especially about the hat and hair.

Susan tried to walk like her."I suppose I look and act greener than I really am," thought she."But I'll keep my eyes open and catch on." And in this, as in all her thoughts and actions since leaving, she showed confidence not because she was conceited, but because she had not the remotest notion what she was actually attempting.How many of us get credit for courage as we walk unconcerned through perils, or essay and conquer great obstacles, when in truth we are not courageous but simply unaware! As a rule knowledge is power or, rather, a source of power, but there are times when ignorance is a power and knowledge a weakness.If Susan had known, she might perhaps have stayed at home and submitted and, with crushed spirit, might have sunk under the sense of shame and degradation.But she did not know; so Columbus before his sailors or Caesar at the Rubicon among his soldiers did not seem more tranquil than she really was.Wylie, who suspected in the direction of the truth, wondered at her."She's game, she is," he muttered again and again that morning."What a nerve for a kid--and a lady, too!"She found the right corner and the right car without further adventure; and the conductor assured her that he would set her down before the very door of the address on the card.It was an open car with few passengers.She took the middle of the long seat nearest the rear platform and looked about her like one in a happy dream.On and on and yet on they went.With every square they passed more people, so it seemed to her, than there were in all Sutherland.And what huge stores! And what wonderful displays of things to wear! Where would the people be found to buy such quantities, and where would they get the money to pay?