"But fifty-fifty, my dear--that's all the bet ever was or will be for a woman, and now her odds is a lot worse, they say, even for the well and strong ones.
Maybe part of the trouble with us women was we never looked on this business of getting married with any kind of halfway business sense.
Along comes a man, and we get foolish.

Lord! Oughtn't both of us to know about bargain counters and basement sales ?" "Well, let's eat, Mary," she concluded, seeing she had no answer.

And Mary Warren, broken-hearted, high-headed, silent, turned to the remaining routine of the day.
Annie busied herself at the little box behind the stove--a box with a flap of white cloth, which served as cupboard.

Here she found a coffee pot, a half loaf of bread, some tinned goods, a pair of apples.

She put the coffee pot to boil upon the little stove, pushing back the ornamental acorn which covered the lid at its top.