Chapter 5
&quot;Mother, Mother, I am so happy!&quot; whispered the girl, burying her fa the lap of the faded, tired-looking woman who, with back turo the shrill intrusive light, was sit<u></u>ting in the one arm-chair that their dingy sitting-room tained. &quot;I am so happy!&quot; she repeated, &quot;and you must be happy, too!&quot;
Mrs. Vane winced and put her thin, bismuth-whitened hands on her daughters head. &quot;Happy!&quot; she echoed, &quot;I am only happy, Sibyl, when I see you act. You must not think of anything but y. Mr. Isaacs has been very good to us, and we owe him money.&quot;
The girl looked up and pouted. &quot;Money, Mother?&quot; she cried, &quot;what does money matter? Love is more than money.&quot;
&quot;Mr. Isaacs has advanced us fifty pounds to pay off our debts and to get a proper outfit for James. You must not fet that, Sibyl. Fifty pounds is a very large sum. Mr. Isaacs has been most siderate.&quot;
&quot;He is not a gentleman, Mother, and I hate the way he talks to me,&quot; said the girl, rising to her feet and going over to the window.
&quot;I dont knoe could mahout him,&quot; answered the elder woman querulously.
Sibyl Vaossed her head and laughed. &quot;We dont want him any more, Mother. Prince Charming rules life for us no;quot; Then she paused. A rose shook in her blood and shadowed her cheeks. Quick breath parted the petals of her lips. They trembled. Some southern wind of passio over her and stirred the dainty folds of her dress. &quot;I love him,&quot; she said simply.
&quot;Foolish child! foolish child!&quot; was the parrot-phrase flung in ahe waving of crooked, false-jewelled fingers gave grotesqueo the words.
The girl