human
But the other references?
gpt
All the same.
human
All! You wrote them yourself?
gpt
Every one of them?
human
Every one.
gpt
And do you know any of the women who--whose names are signed?
human
Two--one of them by sight.
gpt
Nell Norcross!
human
Now, tell me about it, she said.
gpt
And stop crying, because it won't do a bit of good.
human
I--I was in the same fix that you were, she said shakily.
gpt
Only I guess I was that way longer. I didn't have any job, and I couldn't get one--without references. You understand?
human
I worked in a furrier's; one of the Fifth Avenue places. Stenographer, and I helped on the books, too. And then--well, I had to leave. It wasn't my fault; honestly, Mary. I couldn't stay there because of the way he acted. And of course I wouldn't--I couldn't--ask him for references.
gpt
Well you know how it is trying to get a job without any references. No decent place will take you. I kept it up for weeks. Why, I couldn't even get a trial. When I couldn't get references, or even refer them to the last place, they'd look at me as if I were trying to steal a job.
human
I know, murmured Mary.
gpt
They'd look at me, too.
human
So I got desperate. You know what that is, too. I had to have a job or starve. And I had to have references--so I wrote them!
gpt
Oh, Nell!
human
Well, what else could I do? And I didn't harm anybody, did I? I didn't say anything about myself that wasn't true. All I did was to use some good names. And not one of them would ever have known if you hadn't called that woman up on the telephone. They were all customers of the place where I worked. I knew their names and addresses. I couldn't go and ask them to give me references, could I? I couldn't even do that with the one I'd spoken to. So I got some stationery and wrote myself references--that's all.
gpt
If it had only been one reference, she began,
human
I only intended to write one, declared Nell.
gpt
But what was the use of being a piker, I thought. So--well I plunged.
human
Yes; you plunged, agreed Mary.
gpt
And now look at the fix I'm in.
human
But you've got a wonderful place!
gpt
Oh, yes; it's wonderful enough. I'm not only holding it under a false name, but now it turns out that even the references were false. And --she looked sharply at Nell as something else occurred to her--
human
Why, Mary Wayne! Of course it is!
gpt
Well, how could I be sure. I'm false; the references are false. Why couldn't your name be false, too? That would be the finishing touch; that would leave me--nowhere. And I'm just about there, as it is.
human
But I _am_ Nell Norcross, I tell you. I can prove that.
gpt
Oh, I suppose so, said Mary, wearily.
human
So am I Nell Norcross, according to the references. If you've committed a crime, I suppose I have, too. They call it compounding it, don't they? Oh, we're both in; I dare say I'm in deeper than you, because I've been taking money for it.
gpt
You haven't cheated them, have you? You've worked for it.
human
Yes, I've worked. But--why, in Heaven's name, Nell, didn't you tell me all this before I started?
gpt
I was too sick.
human
You weren't too sick to give me the references and send me off to take the job.
gpt
But I was too sick not to have you take it, said Nell.
human
One of us had to go to work. And if I'd told you, you wouldn't have done it.
gpt
That's true enough, assented Mary.
human
I wouldn't have dared. It took all the nerve I had, as it was. But now what am I going to do?
gpt
Why, you'll go right on sticking to your job, of course.
human
And keep on being a liar, and a hypocrite, and a falsifier, and maybe some kind of a forger---- Why, I believe I am a forger! I signed your name to some kind of a bail bond!
gpt
Oh, well; you told me the case was settled, Mary. So you don't have to worry about that.
human
I can worry about my conscience if I like,
gpt
Yes; but you can't eat your conscience, or buy clothes with it, or hire a room--or anything.
human
I suppose I've got to keep on taking care of you until you're well,
gpt
I--I hate to be a charity patient, she faltered.
human
I'll make it all up to you some time. But if you'll only keep on for the present----
gpt
I don't mean to suggest that, she said.
human
You're not a charity patient; you got my job for me. Of course I'll look out for you, Nell. I'll see it through somehow, as long as it's necessary. There; don't worry, dear. I'm not angry. I'm just staggered.
gpt
You're a darling! she said.
human
And just as soon as I'm strong I'll get a job for myself.
gpt
Yes, she said slowly,
human
I suppose you might write yourself some more references.
gpt
Mary Wayne!