She has been arrested -- for theft. She has pleaded
guilty! And I see -- that she has been very ill -- that she is
faint from shame -- and fear -- and lack of food. And there is a
young lawyer. He is defending her; he is asking the judge to be
merciful, because this is her first offence, because she stole
the cloak to get money to take her where she had been promised
work. Because this is his first case."
Winthrop gave a gasp of disbelief.
"You don't mean to tell me -- " he cried.
"Hush!" commanded the girl. "And he persuades the judge to let
her go," she continued quickly, her voice shaking, "and he and
the girl walk out of the court house together. And he talks to
her kindly, and gives her money to pay her way to the people who
have promised her work."
Vera dropped her arm, and stepping back, faced Winthrop. Through
her tears her eyes were flashing proudly, gratefully; the
feeling that shook her made her voice vibrate. The girl seemed
proud of her tears, proud of her debt of gratitude.
"And I've never forgotten you," she said, her voice eager and
trembling, "and what you did for me. And I've watched you come
to this city, and fight it, and fight it, until you made them
put you where you are." She stopped to control her voice, and
smiled at him. "And that's why I knew you were District
Attorney," she said; "and please -- " she fumbled in the mesh
purse at her waist and taking a bill from it, threw it upon the
table.
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