“Perhaps I’d better get on to it,” answered Mrs. Strong’nth’arm. “Then it will be the sooner over. I want to be back before he comes in, if I can.” Betty took a chair beside her, facing the fire. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “I’ve got an inkling of it.” The other looked at her in surprise. “How could you?” she asked. “He’s never said a word, even to me.” Betty smiled. “Then how is it you know?” she answered. “Of course I knew they were back. He wrote and told me.” “Yes,” said the other. “It’s wonderful how love sharpens a woman’s instincts.” Suddenly she leant forward and gripped the girl’s hand. “Don’t let him,” she said. “Stop him before it’s too late.” She felt the girl’s hand tremble in hers. “I’m not thinking of you,” she said. “Do it for his sake--save him.” “How can I?” the girl answered. “What would you have me do? Go down on my knees to him. Cry to him for pity?” “Not pity,” answered the other, “for common honesty. Put it to his honour. He thinks no end of that. That’s his religion--the only religion he’s got. He’s yours, not hers. Hasn’t he been dangling about after you for years? Doesn’t he owe everything to you? His first start that gave him his chance! How can he get over that? Hasn’t he compromised you? Doesn’t everybody know of it and take it as a settled thing? What are you going to do if you let him throw you over now? If you let this brainless doll, just because of her white skin----” “Don’t, don’t,” cried the girl. She had risen. “What’s the good? Besides, what right have I?” “What right?” answered the other. “You love him; that’s what gives you the right. You were made for him, to be his helpmeet, as the Bible says. Do you think I don’t know him? What could she do for him except waste his money on her luxuries and extravagancies? What does her class know about money but how to fling it about and then laugh at the man when it’s all spent? What do they know of the aching and sweating that goes to the making of it? What will be his share of the bargain but to keep the whole pauper family of them in idle ease while he wears out his heart slaving for them, and they look down upon him and despise him. What right----” Her voice had risen to a scream. The girl held up a warning hand. She checked herself and went on in a low, swift tone. “What right has she to come forcing her way at the last moment into other people’s lives, spoiling them just for a passing whim? Love! That sort of love! We know how long that lasts and what comes afterwards. Only in this case it will be she that will first tire of him. His very faithfulness will bore her. He hasn’t the monkey tricks that attract these women. Upstart! Charity boy! That’s what she’ll fling at him when some fawning popinjay has caught her fancy. I tell you I know her and her sort. I’ve lived among them. They don’t act before their servants.”