Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the city room.djvu/182

 hostess. "Herforth said to me to-day, 'saw Miss Herrick at the theatre the other night with Miss Bertram. They 'not friends, are they?' and his accent of surprise said more than he meant to, I assure you. Mr. Davidson has spoken to Miss Neville about it—very nicely and guardedly, of course, but what he said amounted to a warning, and half a dozen of our women friends have labored with us individually and collectively along the same lines. You must all admit that. I'm willing to help Miss Bertram in any way I can. I 'll advise her about her stories, I 'll divide my assignments with her, as we 're both on space, but as for 'the precious boon of companionship,' that's another story! Does my companionship do her good enough to compensate for the harm hers does me? And what is true in my case is true in yours. There is the situation in a nutshell. I don't like to say these things. I almost hate myself while I'm saying them, for they seem such worldly counsel. I know how much finer Ruth's point of view is. But we must remember where we are. Truth is speaking to you, my friends, though