MARY. [_Eagerly._] Open it, Joe.
JOE. [_Turning to her again._] Why didn't you?
MARY. I just thought I'd wait--I'd an idea something might have happened;
that some one might have stopped you in the street, some one with a
heart--and that he'd have come in with you to-night--and seen us--seen
Minnie--and said--"Well, here's money--I'll put you on your legs
again"--And then we'd have given the purse back, Joe.
JOE. [_As he still mechanically balances it in his hand._] Yes.
MARY. Can't go on like this, can we? You'll cough all night again, as you
did yesterday--and the stuff they gave you at the Dispensary's no good. If
you had clothes, you might get some sort of a job perhaps--you know you
had to give up trying because you were so shabby.
JOE. They laugh at me.
MARY. [_With a glance at herself._] And I'm really ashamed to walk through
the streets--
JOE. I know--though I'm getting used to it. Besides, there's the kiddie.
Let's have a look at her.
MARY. Be careful you don't wake her, Joe!
JOE. There's a fire.
MARY. She'll be hungry.
JOE. You said that she had some food?
MARY. That was at three o'clock. And little things aren't like us--they
want their regular meals. Night after night she has been hungry, and I've
had nothing to give her. That's why I took the purse.
JOE. [_Still holding it mechanically and staring at it._] Yes. And, after
all, why not?