ANNIE.  She has a rule in dis house dat nobody can use huh chiny or fo’ks or spoons who ain’t boa’ding heah, and de odder day when yuh asked me to bring up a knife and fo’k she ketched me coming upstairs, and she says, “Where yuh goin’ wid all dose things, Annie?” Ah said, “Ah’m just goin’ up to Miss Laura’s room with dat knife and fo’k.”  Ah said, “Ah’m goin’ up for nothin’ at all, Mis’ Farley, she jest wants to look at them, Ah guess.”  She said, “She wants to eat huh dinner wid ’em, Ah guess.”  Ah got real mad, and Ah told her if she’d give me mah pay Ah’d brush right out o’ here; dat’s what Ah’d do, Ah’d brush right out o’ here. [Violently shaking out towel.

LAURA.  I’m sorry, Annie, if I’ve caused you any trouble.  Never mind, I’ll be able to pay the rent to-morrow or next day anyway. [She fumbles in purse, takes out a quarter, and turns to ANNIE.] Here!

ANNIE.  No, ma’am, Ah don’ want dat.

[Making a show of reluctance.

LAURA.  Please take it.

ANNIE.  No, ma’am, Ah don’ want it.  You need dat.  Dat’s breakfast money for yuh, Miss Laura.

LAURA.  Please take it, Annie.  I might just as well get rid of this as anything else.

ANNIE. [Takes it rather reluctantly.] Yuh always was so good, Miss Laura.  Sho’ yuh don’ want dis?

LAURA.  Sure.

ANNIE.  Sho’ yo’ goin’ to get planty mo’?

LAURA.  Sure.

MRS. FARLEY’S VOICE. [Downstairs.] Annie!  Annie!

ANNIE. [Going to door, opens it.] Dat’s Mis’ Farley. [To MRS.
FARLEY.] Yassum, Mis’ Farley.

SAME VOICE.  Is Miss Murdock up there?

ANNIE.  Yassum, Mis’ Farley, yassum!

MRS. FARLEY.  Anything doin’?

ANNIE.  Huh?

MRS. FARLEY.  Anything doin’?

ANNIE. [At door.] Ah—­Ah—­hain’t asked, Missy Farley.

MRS. FARLEY.  Then do it.

LAURA. [Coming to the rescue at the door.  To ANNIE.] I’ll answer her. [Out of door to MRS. FARLEY.] What is it, Mrs. Farley?

MRS. FARLEY. [Her voice softened.] Did ye have any luck this morning, dearie?

LAURA.  No; but I promise you faithfully to help you out this afternoon or to-morrow.

MRS. FARLEY.  Sure?  Are you certain?

LAURA.  Absolutely.

MRS. FARLEY.  Well, I must say these people expect me to keep—­[Door closed.

LAURA quietly closes the door, and MRS. FARLEY’S rather strident voice is heard indistinctly.  LAURA sighs and walks toward table; sits.  ANNIE looks after her, and then slowly opens the door.

ANNIE.  Yo’ sho’ dere ain’t nothin’ I can do fo’ yuh, Miss Laura?

LAURA.  Nothing.

ANNIE exits.  LAURA sits down and looks at letter, opening it.  It consists of several pages closely written.  She reads some of them hurriedly, skims through the rest, and then turns to the last page without reading; glances at it; lays it on table; rises.