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first thought he would like to be an assistant editor of a
magazine。 But he found editors of magazines anxious to employ new
and untried assistants； especially in June； were very few。 On the
contrary； they explained they were retrenching and cutting down
expensesthey meant they had discharged all office boys who
received more than three dollars a week。 They further 〃retrenched；〃
by taking a mean advantage of Carter's having called upon them in
person； by handing him three or four of his storiesbut by this he
saved his postage…stamps。
Each day； when he returned to the flat； Dolly； who always expected
each editor would hastily dust off his chair and offer it to her
brilliant husband； would smile excitedly and gasp； 〃Well？〃 and
Carter would throw the rejected manuscripts on the table and say：
〃At least； I have not returned empty… handed。〃 Then they would
discover a magazine that neither they nor any one else knew
existed； and they would hurriedly readdress the manuscripts to that
periodical； and run to post them at the letter…box on the corner。
〃Any one of them； if ACCEPTED；〃 Carter would point out； 〃might
bring us in twenty…five dollars。 A story of mine once sold for
forty； so to…night we can afford to dine at a restaurant where wine
is NOT 'included。'〃
Fortunately； they never lost their sense of humor。 Otherwise the
narrow confines of the flat； the evil smells that rose from the
baked streets； the greasy food of Italian and Hungarian
restaurants； and the ever…haunting need of money might have crushed
their youthful spirits。 But in time even they found that one； still
less two； cannot exist exclusively on love and the power to see the
bright side of things especially when there is no bright side。
They had come to the point where they must borrow money from their
friends； and that； though there were many who would have opened
their safes to them； they had agreed was the one thing they would
not do； or they must starve。 The alternative was equally
distasteful。
Carter had struggled earnestly to find a job。 But his inexperience
and the season of the year were against him。 No newspaper wanted a
dramatic critic when the only shows in town had been running three
months； and on roof gardens； nor did they want a 〃cub〃 reporter
when veterans were being 〃laid off〃 by the dozens。 Nor were his
services desired as a private secretary； a taxicab driver； an agent
to sell real estate or automobiles or stocks。 As no one gave him a
chance to prove his unfitness for any of these callings； the fact
that he knew nothing of any of them did not greatly matter。 At
these rebuffs Dolly was distinctly pleased。 She argued they proved
he was intended to pursue his natural career as an author。
That their friends might know they were poor did not affect her；
but she did not want them to think by his taking up any outside
〃job〃 that they were poor because as a literary genius he was a
failure。 She believed in his stories。 She wanted every one else to
believe in them。 Meanwhile； she assisted him in so far as she could
by pawning the contents of five of the seven trunks； by learning to
cook on a 〃 Kitchenette；〃 and to laundry her handkerchiefs and iron
them on the looking…glass。
They faced each other across the breakfast…table。 It was only nine
o'clock； but the sun beat into the flat with the breath of a
furnace； and the air was foul and humid。
〃I tell you；〃 Carter was saying fiercely； 〃you look ill。 You are
ill。 You must go to the sea…shore。 You must visit some of your
proud； friends at East Hampton or Newport。 Then I'll know you're
happy and I won't worry； and I'll find a job。 I don't mind the
heat…and I'll write you love letters〃he was talking very fast and
not looking at Dolly〃like those I used to write you； before〃
Dolly raised her hand。 〃Listen！〃 she said。 〃Suppose I leave you。
What will happen？ I'll wake up in a cool； beautiful brass bed；
won't Iwith cretonne window…curtains； and salt air blowing them
about； and a maid to bring me coffee。 And instead of a bathroom
like yours； next to an elevator shaft and a fire…escape； I'll have
one as big as a church； and the whole blue ocean to swim in。 And
I'll sit on the rocks in the sunshine and watch the waves and the
yachts〃
〃And grow well again！〃 cried Carter。 〃But you'll write to me；〃 he
added wistfully； 〃every day； won't you？〃
In her wrath； Dolly rose； and from across the table confronted him。
〃And what will I be doing on those rocks？〃 she cried。 〃You KNOW
what I'll be doing！ I'll be sobbing； and sobbing； and calling out
to the waves： 'Why did he send me away？ Why doesn't he want me？
Because he doesn't love me。 That's why！ He doesn't LOVE me！' And
you DON'T！〃 cried Dolly。 〃you DON'T！〃
It took him all of three minutes to persuade her she was mistaken。
〃Very well； then；〃 sobbed Dolly； 〃that's settled。 And there'll be
no more talk of sending me away！
〃There will NOT！〃 said Champneys hastily。 〃We will now；〃 he
announced； 〃go into committee of the whole and decide how we are to
face financial failure。 Our assets consist of two stories；
accepted； but not paid for； and fifteen stories not accepted。 In
cash； he spread upon the table a meagre collection of soiled bills
and coins。 〃We have twenty…seven dollars and fourteen cents。 That
is every penny we possess in the world。〃
Dolly regarded him fixedly and shook her head。
〃Is it wicked；〃 she asked； 〃to love you so？〃
〃Haven't you been listening to me？〃 demanded Carter。
Again Dolly shook her head。
〃I was watching the way you talk。 When your lips move fast they do
such charming things。〃
〃Do you know；〃 roared Carter； 〃that we haven't a penny in the
world； that we have nothing in this flat to eat？〃
〃I still have five hats；〃 said Dolly。
〃We can't eat hats；〃 protested Champneys。
〃We can sell hats！〃 returned Dolly。 〃They cost eighty dollars
apiece！〃
〃When you need money；〃 explained Carter； 〃I find it's just as hard
to sell a hat as to eat it。〃
〃Twenty…seven dollars and fourteen cents；〃 repeated Dolly。 She
exclaimed remorsefully： 〃And you started with three thousand！ What
did I do with it？〃
〃We both had the time of our lives with it！〃 said Carter stoutly。
〃And that's all there is to that。 Post…mortems；〃 he pointed out；
〃are useful only as guides to the future； and as our future will
never hold a second three thousand dollars； we needn't worry about
how we spent the first one。 No！ What we must consider now is how we
can grow rich quick； and the quicker and richer； the better。
Pawning our clothes； or what's left of them； is bad economics。
There's no use considering how to live from meal to meal。 We must
evolve something big； picturesque； that will bring a fortune。 You
have imagination； I'm supposed to have imagination； we must think
of a plan to get money； much money。 I do not insist on our plan
being dignified； or even outwardly respectable； so long as it keeps
you alive； it may be as desperate as〃
〃I see！〃 cried Dolly； 〃like sending mother Black Hand letters！〃
〃Blackmail〃 began that lady's son…in…law doubtfully。
〃Or！〃 cried Dolly； 〃we might kidnap Mr。 Carnegie when he's walking
in the park alone； and hold him f