Having a conscience of her own, Junia continued to "sidestep."
"My dear, I can't tell you what to do. I'm not sure that I know—very well. You see, it's your trouble, and you must get out of it. I'll help you. I will do that. In every way I can I'll make it easy for you. But I couldn't advise—or—or put anything in your way that might be considered as—as temptation."
But conscientious scruples were not in Jennie's line. When eager to reach a point, she went to it straight.
"If Bob came back from South America and found I was living with Hubert, wouldn't he have to divorce me then?"
Junia rose in the agitation of one unused to plain talk, and shocked by it.
"Jennie—your name is Jennie, isn't it?—I must go and speak to Mr. Collingham. You'll stay here—won't you?—till I come back. I may have something then rather important to say."
The girl sat still, looking up adoringly.
"Are you going to tell him?"
"No; I think not. But there's something I want to ask him. I don't think that either you or I had better say anything to anyone. What do you think?"
Jennie shook her head.