Part 46 (1/2)
But after supper she found herself locked in with another woman. She sat down on the edge of her cot, in the dim light of the room, and with a sharp glance, half fear, half curiosity, regarded her room-mate. This other was a woman of possibly thirty years, with sallow cheeks, bright burning eyes, and straggly hair. She stood before the little wall mirror, apparently examining herself. Suddenly she turned:
”What you looking at, kid?”
Rhona averted her eyes.
”I didn't mean--”
”Say,” said the other, ”ain't I the awful thing? Not a rat or a puff or a dab of rouge allowed in these here premises. I do look a sight--a fright. Gee!” She turned. ”You're not so worse. A little pale, kid.”
She came over and sat next to Rhona.
”What'll I call you?”
Rhona shrank. She was a sensitive, ignorant girl, and did not understand this type of woman. Something coa.r.s.e, familiar, vulgar seemed to grate against her.
”Rhona's my name,” she breathed.
”Well, that's cute! Call you Ronie?” She stretched out her arms. ”Oh, slats! I'd give my teeth for a cigarette and a Manhattan c.o.c.ktail.
Wouldn't I, though!”
Rhona shuddered.
The woman turned toward her.
”My name's Millie. Now we're pals, eh?” Then she rattled on: ”First time in the workhouse? Comes hard at first, doesn't it? Cut off from friends and fun--and ain't the work beastly? Say, Ronie, what's your job in little old New York?”
Rhona swallowed a dull sob.
”I haven't any--we're on strike.”
Millie jumped up.
”What, you one of them s.h.i.+rtwaist strikers?”
”Yes.”
”Why did they run you in?”
”An officer struck me, and then said I struck him.”
”Just like a man! Oh, I know men! Depend upon it, I know the men! So, you were a s.h.i.+rt-waist-maker. How much d'yer earn?”
”Oh, about five or six a week.”
”A--_week_!” Millie whistled. ”And I suppose ten hours a day, or worse, and I suppose work that would kill an ox.”
”Yes,” said Rhona, ”hard work.”
Millie sat down and put an arm about the shrinking girl.