Mrs. Trubner was sitting on a low wicker chair by the fire. She was a large woman with eagle features. Her eyesight had been failing for some years, and her maid was reading to her. The maid closed the book and left the room. "It has come to my knowledge, Waters, that you have a child. You're not a married woman, I believe?" "I've been unfortunate; I've a child, but that don't make no difference so long as I gives satisfaction in my work. I don't think that the cook has complained, ma'am." "No, the cook hasn't complained, but had I known this I don't think I should have engaged you. In the character which you showed me, Mrs. Barfield said that she believed you to be a thoroughly religious girl at heart." "And I hope I am that, ma'am. I'm truly sorry for my fault. I've suffered a great deal." "So you all say; but supposing it were to happen again, and in my house? Supposing----" "Then don't you think, ma'am, there is repentance and forgiveness? Our Lord said----" "You ought to have told me; and as for Mrs. Barfield, her conduct is most reprehensible." "Then, ma'am, would you prevent every poor girl who has had a misfortune from earning her bread? If they was all like you there would be more girls who'd do away with themselves and their babies. You don't know how hard pressed we are. The baby-farmer says, 'Give me five pounds and I'll find a good woman who wants a little one, and you shall hear no more about it.' Them very words were said to me. I took him away and hoped to be able to rear him, but if I'm to lose my situations----" "I should be sorry to prevent anyone from earning their bread----" "You're a mother yourself, ma'am, and you know what it is." "Really, it's quite different.... I don't know what you mean, Waters." "I mean that if I am to lose my situations on account of my baby, I don't know what will become of me. If I give satisfaction--" At that moment Mr. Trubner entered. He was a large, stout man, with his mother's aquiline features. He arrived with his glasses on his nose, and slightly out of breath. "Oh, oh, I didn't know, mother," he blurted out, and was about to withdraw when Mrs. Trubner said-- "This is the new servant whom that lady in Sussex recommended." Esther saw a look of instinctive repulsion come over his face. "I'll leave you to settle with her, mother." "I must speak to you, Harold--I must." "I really can't; I know nothing of this matter." He tried to leave the room, and when his mother stopped him he said testily, "Well, what is it? I am very busy just now, and--" Mrs. Trubner told Esther to wait in the passage. "Well," said Mr. Trubner, "have you discharged her? I leave all these things to you." "She has told me her story; she is trying to bring up her child on her wages.... She said if she was kept from earning her bread she didn't know what would become of her. Her position is a very terrible one."