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use she learned that her guess was correct learned it from the landlady herself。 After dinner Mrs。 Belloc came into her room to cheer her up； to find out about her and to tell her about herself。
‘‘Now that you've come；'' said she； ‘‘the house is full upexcept some little rooms at the top that I'd as lief not fill。 The probabilities are that any ladies who would take them wouldn't be refined enough to suit those I have。 There are six； not counting me； every one with a bath and two with private parlors。 And as they're all handsome； sensible women； ladylike and steady； I think the prospects are that they'll pay promptly and that I won't have any trouble。''
Mildred reflected upon this curious statement。 It sounded innocent enough； yet what a peculiar way to put a simple fact。
‘‘Of course it's none of my business how people live as long as they keep up the respectabilities；'' pursued Mrs。 Belloc。 ‘‘It don't do to inquire into people in New York。 Most of 'em come here because they want to live as they please。''
‘‘No doubt；'' said Mildred a little nervously； for she suspected her landlady of hitting at her； and wondered if she had come to cross…examine her and； if the results were not satisfactory； to put her into the street。
‘‘I know _I_ came for that reason；'' pursued Mrs。 Belloc。 ‘‘I was a school…teacher up in New England until about two years ago。 Did you ever teach school？''
‘‘Not yet；'' said Mildred。 ‘‘And I don't think I ever shall。 I don't know enough。''
‘‘Oh； yes； you do。 A teacher doesn't need to know much。 The wages are so poorat least up in New Englandthat they don't expect you to know anything。 It's all in the books。 I left because I couldn't endure the life。 Lord！ how dull those little towns are！ Ever live in a little town？''
‘‘All my life；'' said Mildred。
‘‘Well； you'll never go back。''
‘‘I hope not。''
‘‘You won't。 Why should you？ A sensible woman with looksespecially if she knows how to carry her clothescan stay in New York as long as she pleases； and live off the fat of the land。''
‘‘That's good news；'' said Mildred。 She began to like the landladynot for what she said； but for the free and frank and friendly way of the sayinga human way； a comradely way； a live…and…let…live way。
‘‘I didn't escape from New England without a struggle；'' continued Mrs。 Belloc； who was plainly showing that she had taken a great fancy to ‘‘Mary Stevens。''
‘‘I suppose it was hard to save the money out of your salary；'' said Mildred。
Mrs。 Belloc laughed。 She was about thirty…five years old； though her eyes and her figure were younger than that。 Her mouth was pleasant enough； but had lost some of its freshness。 ‘‘Save money！'' cried she。 ‘‘I'd never have succeeded that way。 I'd be there yet。 I had never marriedhad two or three chances； but all from poor sticks looking for someone to support them。 I saw myself getting old。 I was looking years older than I do now。 Talk about sea air for freshening a woman upit isn't in it with the air of New York。 Here's the town where women stay young。 If I had come here five years ago I could almost try for the squab class。''
‘‘Squab class？'' queried Mildred。
‘‘Yes； squabs。 Don't you see them around everywhere？ the women dressed like girls of sixteen to eighteenand some of them are that； and younger。 They go hopping and laughing aboutand they seem to please the men and to have no end of a good time。 Especially the oldish men。 Oh； yes； you know a squab on sighttight skirt； low shoes and silk stockings； cute pretty face； always laughing； hat set on rakishly and hair done to match； and always a big purse or bagwith a yellow…back or so in itas a kind of a hint； I guess。''
Mildred had seen squabs。 ‘‘I've envied themin a way；'' said she。 ‘‘Their parents seem to let them do about as they please。''
‘‘Their parents don't knowor don't care。 Sometimes it's one； sometimes the other。 They travel in two sets。 One is where they meet young fellows of their own classthe kind they'll probably marry； unless they happen to draw the capital prize。 The other set they travel inwell； it's the older men they meet round the swell hotels and so onthe yellow…back men。''
‘‘How queer！'' exclaimed Mildred； before whose eyes a new world was opening。 ‘‘But how do theythese squabsaccount for the money？''
‘‘How do a thousand and one women in this funny town account at home for money and things？'' retorted Mrs。 Belloc。 ‘‘Nothing's easier。 For instance； often these squabs door pretend to doa little something in the way of worka little canvassing or artists' model or anything you please。 That helps them to explain at homeand also to make each of the yellow… back men think he's the only one and that he's being almost loved for himself alone。''
Mrs。 Belloc laughed。 Mildred was too astonished to laugh； and too interestedand too startled or shocked。
‘‘But I was telling you how _I_ got down here；'' continued the landlady。 ‘‘Up in my town there was an old manabout seventy…fiveclose as the bark on a tree； and ugly and mean。'' She paused to draw a long breath and to shake her head angrily yet triumphantly at some figure her fancy conjured up。 ‘‘Oh； he WAS a pup！and is！ Well； anyhow； I decided that I'd marry him。 So I wrote home for fifty dollars。 I borrowed another fifty here and there。 I had seventy…five saved up against sickness。 I went up to Boston and laid it all out in underclothes and house thingsnot showy but fine and good to look at。 Then one day； when the weather was fine and I knew the old man would be out in his buggy driving roundI dressed myself up to beat the band。 I took hours to itscrubbing； powdering； sacheting； perfuming； fixing the hair； fixing my finger…nails； fixing up my feet； polishing every nail and making them look better than most hands。''
Mildred was so interested that she was excited。 What strange freak was coming？
‘‘You never could guess；'' pursued Mrs。 Belloc； complacently。 ‘‘I took my sunshade and went out； all got up to kill。 And I walked along the road until I saw the old man's buggy coming with him in it。 Then I gave my ankle a frightful wrench。 My！ How it hurt！''
‘‘What a pity！'' said Mildred sympathetically。 ‘‘What a shame！''
‘‘A pity？ A shame？'' cried Mrs。 Belloc； laughing。 ‘‘Why； my dear； I did it a…purpose。''
‘‘On purpose！'' exclaimed Mildred。
‘‘Certainly。 That was my game。 I screamed out with painand the scream was no fake； I can tell you。 And I fell down by the roadside on a nice grassy spot where no dust would get on me。 Well； up comes the old skinflint in his buggy。 He climbed down and helped me get off my slipper and stocking。 I knew I had him the minute I saw his old face looking at that foot I had fixed up so beautifully。''
‘‘How DID you ever think of it？'' exclaimed Mildred。
‘‘Go and teach school for ten years in a dull little town； my dearand look in the glass every day and see your youth fading awayand you'll think of most anything。 Well； to make a long story short； the old man took me in the buggy to his house where he lived with his deaf； half…blind old widowed daughter。 I had to stay there three weeks。 I married him the fourth week。 And just two month