"No." Lillian smiled with pleasure. "What could I do on the stage?" she asked him as though he were urging her to go in for a career.
The pawnbroker shrugged. "I don't know what you could do," he said. "I was just wondering."
"No," Lillian said again. She looked in her bag to be sure that the money and the ticket were safe. She went out then, very well satisfied with the outcome of her adventure.
Hubert was waiting for her when she reached home. He was sitting in the chair by the window, mopping at his forehead with a large grayish handkerchief.
"Hello," he said. "Where were you?"
"Out."
"You wouldn't kid me, would you? I thought you were hiding under the bed."
"Don't be sore. Got any money?"
"No. Why?"
"Today's rent day."
"Gee, I forgot all about it." His pale eyes dreamed down at the street below. "Well, don't worry, Lil. You know I can get the money."
"I got it," she shouted. She had meant to break the news more gently so that the surprise would be greater.
"What? You got it? How?" He stared at her unbelievingly.
"I hocked my ring."
"Which one?"
"Now, how many did I have? The one with the sapphires and diamonds, of course."
"What did you get for it?"
