"Because you want to give up the best work that a woman can do, where there's pay enough, and holidays, and respect----"
The girl shook her head. "You don't know," she moaned, "the work and the drudgery."
"And to change it for the worst work in the world. My dear, you should be proud of being what you are. If you were in the States, you would feel proud of your work. What? Give up that work for a miserable little shop, where you must cheat to make both ends meet? Don't be silly. Go back and thank God, my dear, that He has put you where you can do some good."
She sat down and pulled out her pocket-handkerchief. Her mother stood beside her, her lips moving, her cheek flaming.
"Shall I give you back your letter?" John Haveril asked.
She took it, tore it up, threw the fragments on the floor, seized her mother by the arm, and dragged her out; whether in repentance or in anger the bystanders could not know.
They were all gone now, except the bankrupt.
"You've got my letter, too," he said. "What are you going to do for me?"
"The kindest thing would be to drop you in the river. Alice has left it to me. Well, you are a hopeless creature. Whatever is done for you will be money thrown away. I did think of asking your cousin, the draper, to give you a place in his shop. You might sweep it out and water the floor, and carry out the parcels--or you might walk up and down outside in uniform, and a gold band to your cap."
"Mr. Haveril--sir--I am a gentleman. Don't insult a fallen gentleman, sir; I've employed my own shop-assistants."
"But I fear he would do nothing for you."
"I came here--one day three weeks ago--you were away--I knew that. I gave Alice some secret information just for her own ear, not the kind of thing she would tell you."
"I told her--you don't know, of course; I told her you ought to know--you suppose he's dead."
"Alice's first husband--Anthony Woodroffe. You think he's dead. I told her where he was."
"Where?" Dick sat up, suddenly. "Anthony Woodroffe?"
"Why should I ask whether he's dead or alive?"
"That's what Alice said. As for me, I told her I was astonished. 'Alice,' I said, 'I did think you were respectable.'"
"What does this man mean?" asked Dick. "Anthony Woodroffe?"