LAURA.  Yes; you’ve got plenty of money to spare.

ELFIE.  Well, you certainly have got a nerve.

LAURA.  You might give it to me.  I haven’t a dollar in the world, and you pretend to be such a friend to me!

ELFIE. [Turning and angrily speaking across table.] So that’s the kind of woman you are, eh?  A moment ago you were going to kick me out of the place because I wasn’t decent enough to associate with you.  You know how I live.  You know how I get my money—­the same way you got most of yours.  And now that you’ve got this spasm of goodness I’m not fit to be in your room; but you’ll take my money to pay your debts.  You’ll let me go out and do this sort of thing for your benefit, while you try to play the grand lady.  I’ve got your number now, Laura.  Where in hell is your virtue anyway?  You can go to the devil—­rich, poor, or any other way.  I’m off!  ELFIE rushes toward door; for a moment LAURA stands speechless, then bursts into hysterics.

LAURA.  Elfie!  Elfie!  Don’t go now!  Don’t leave me now! [ELFIE hesitates with hand on door-knob.] I can’t stand it.  I can’t be alone.  Don’t go, please; don’t go.

LAURA falls into ELFIE’S arms, sobbing.  In a moment ELFIE’S whole demeanour changes and she melts into the tenderest womanly sympathy, trying her best to express herself in her crude way.

ELFIE.  There, old girl, don’t cry, don’t cry.  You just sit down here and let me put my arms around you. [ELFIE leads LAURA over to armchair, places muff, &c., in chair, and sits LAURA down in chair.  ELFIE sits on right arm of chair with her left arm behind LAURA; hugs LAURA to her.  LAURA in tears and sobbing during scene.] I’m awful sorry—­on the level, I am.  I shouldn’t have said it.  I know that.  But I’ve got feelings too, even if folks don’t give me credit for it.

LAURA.  I know, Elfie.  I’ve gone through about all I can stand.

ELFIE.  Well, I should say you have—­and more than I would.  Anyway a good cry never hurts any woman.  I have one myself, sometimes—­under cover.

LAURA. [More seriously, recovering herself.] Perhaps what you said was true.

ELFIE.  We won’t talk about it.

[Wiping LAURA’S eyes and kissing her.

LAURA. [With persistence.] But perhaps it was true, and, Elfie—­

ELFIE.  Yes.

LAURA.  I think I’ve stood this just as long as I can.  Every day is a living horror.

ELFIE. [Looking around room.] It’s the limit.

LAURA.  I’ve got to have money to pay the rent.  I’ve pawned everything
I have, except the clothes on my back.

ELFIE.  I’ll give you all the money you need, dearie.  Great heavens, don’t worry about that.  Don’t you care if I got sore and—­and lost my head.

LAURA.  No; I can’t let you do that. [Rises; crosses to table.] You may have been mad,—­awfully mad,—­but what you said was the truth.  I can’t take your money. [Sits right of table.