Page:The Confessions of a Well-Meaning Woman.djvu/262

 any claim; I was brought up in a stern school which ordained that a woman should reap as she had sown. What you regard as her misfortune, I was taught to consider the divine, just punishment of sin.” Sir Appleton looked at his watch and rose to his feet.

“But you’ll pay her a lump sum of a hundred,” he suggested, “to prevent a scandal and help her through her troubles and keep her from jumping into the river?” “I hope she would not be so foolish or wicked as to contemplate such a thing,” I told him, “but I would certainly pay her that.” “Then it’s right that she should know as soon as possible,” said he. “I told her to go round to my house so that my wife could look after her. She dare not face her father; and she was growing rather miserable in lodgings. If you will excuse me, I should like just to explain how the land lies and how much she can hope from your—generosity.” Will opened the door. . . I can see now that I should have done better to say nothing, but I could not let him slip away without a word on the one subject which had made me ask him. . . and submit to his company. . . “And when,” I asked, “may we hope to hear about the appointment?”