"Ruth."
Ernie stared at her.
"What's happened?"
"She's gone."
"When?"
"Some time since. Afore Christmas."
He saw that Céleste, the kindest of creatures, was genuinely moved. She turned her back, and moved to the window, biting her handkerchief to restrain her tears.
"Of course she'd no business here at all," she sobbed. "She was an innocent. She didn't know nothing. If she'd mixed with us girls we could anyway have learned her enough to keep her out of trouble. But she was that proud. Kept herself to herself."
Ernie devoured her with dark eyes.
"Where's she gone?" he asked.