Lillian took Louise apartment-hunting with her. To take a girl friend along when transacting any sort of business is a well-known and highly efficient means of killing two birds with one stone. The renting agent mentions the price of the apartment and you say, "Well, of course, that doesn't matter so long as I like the place." That impresses the girl friend. The girl friend remarks that it is pretty far from the subway and you say, "That doesn't matter as we don't have to go downtown in the mornings, and besides we'll have the cars." That impresses the renting agent.
Also when a girl friend is with you, you are not afraid of the renting agent. You have nerve enough to ask if there is plenty of heat and hot water and if the halls and stairs are well kept. You wouldn't dare ask that if you were alone. The girl friend gives you confidence in your own importance, for ever since you showed your utter indifference to the rent she has been regarding you with respect.
Lillian selected an apartment. It was in Inwood because it hadn't occurred to Lillian that one would look anywhere else. It was a nice apartment. Three rooms. Seventy-five dollars. Louise thought it was an outrageous price and said so. Lillian said she didn't think it was much.
