TheinstantshewasoutofthehospitalTrinahadbeguntosaveagain，butnowitwaswithaneagernessthatamountedattimestoaveritablefrenzy。Sheevendeniedherselflightsandfuelinordertoputbyaquarterorso，grudgingeverypennyshewasobligedtospend。Shedidherownwashingandcooking。Finallyshesoldherweddingdress，thathadhithertolaininthebottomofhertrunk。
ThedayshemovedfromZerkow’soldhouse，shecamesuddenlyuponthedentist’sconcertinaunderaheapofoldclothesinthecloset。Withintwentyminutesshehadsoldittothedealerinsecond-handfurniture，returningtoherroomwithsevendollarsinherpocket，happyforthefirsttimesinceMcTeaguehadlefther。
Butforallthatthematch-boxandthebagrefusedtofillup；afterthreeweeksofthemostrigideconomytheycontainedbuteighteendollarsandsomesmallchange。Whatwasthatcomparedwithfourhundred？Trinatoldherselfthatshemusthavehermoneyinhand。Shelongedtoseeagaintheheapofituponherwork-table，whereshecouldplungeherhandsintoit，herfaceintoit，feelingthecool，smoothmetaluponhercheeks。Atsuchmomentsshewouldseeinherimaginationherwonderfulfivethousanddollarspiledincolumns，shiningandgleamingsomewhereatthebottomofUncleOelbermann’svault。ShewouldlookatthepaperthatUncleOelbermannhadgivenher，andtellherselfthatitrepresentedfivethousanddollars。Butintheendthisceasedtosatisfyher，shemusthavethemoneyitself。Shemusthaveherfourhundreddollarsbackagain，thereinhertrunk，inherbagandhermatch-box，whereshecouldtouchitandseeitwhenevershedesired。
Atlengthshecouldstanditnolonger，andonedaypresentedherselfbeforeUncleOelbermannashesatinhisofficeinthewholesaletoystore，andtoldhimshewantedtohavefourhundreddollarsofhermoney。
“Butthisisveryirregular，youknow，Mrs。McTeague，“saidthegreatman。“Notbusiness-likeatall。“