"He told her at dinner, when I was present. Lucy is quite on your side.
She says that she had known Mrs. Jasher for months and that there is
good in her, although I am bound to say that Lucy was a trifle shocked."
"Does she want Mrs. Jasher to marry her father now?"
"Her step-father," corrected Archie immediately. "No, that is out of
the question. But she would like Mrs. Jasher to be helped out of
her difficulties and have a fair start. It was only by the greatest
diplomacy that I prevented Lucy going to see the wretched woman this
evening."
"Why did you prevent her?"
Archie colored.
"I daresay I am a trifle prudish," he replied, "but after what has
happened I do not wish Lucy to associate with Mrs. Jasher. Do you blame
me?"
"No, I don't. All the same, I don't think that Mrs. Jasher is an immoral
woman by any means."
"Perhaps not; but we needn't discuss her character, as we know precious
little of her past, and she no doubt told you the story that best suited
herself. I think it will be best to make her tell all she knows this
evening, and then send her away with a sum of money in her pocket to
begin a new life."
"I shall help her certainly," said Random, with his eyes on the fire,
"but can't say exactly how. It is my opinion that the poor wretch is
more sinned against than sinning."
"You are a soldier with a conscience, Random."
The other laughed.
"Why shouldn't a soldier have a conscience? Do you take your idea
of officers from the lady novelist, who makes us out to be all idle
idiots?"
"Not exactly. All the same, many a man would not take the trouble to
behave as you are doing to this unlucky woman."
"Any man, who was a man, whether soldier or civilian, would help such a
poor creature. And I believe, Hope, that you will help her also."
The artist leaped to his feet impulsively.
"Of course. I'm with you right along, as Hervey would say. But first,
before deciding what we shall do to set Mrs. Jasher on her legs again,
let us hear what she has to say."
"She can say nothing more than she has said," remonstrated Random.
"I don't believe that," replied Hope, reaching for his overcoat. "You
may choose to believe that the letter was the outcome of bluff. But I
really and truly think that Mrs. Jasher is in the know. What is more,
I believe that Bolton got her those clothes, and that she was the
woman who talked to him--went there to see how the little scheme was
progressing."
"If I thought that," said Random coldly, "I would not help Mrs. Jasher."