"Of course, there may be nothing wrong in it," said his mother. "But you know what folk are, and if once she gets talked about——"
"Well, I can't help it. Their jaw isn't so almighty important, after all."
"I think you ought to consider her."
"So I do! What can people say?—that we take a walk together. I believe you're jealous."
"You know I should be glad if she weren't a married woman."
"Well, my dear, she lives separate from her husband, and talks on platforms; so she's already singled out from the sheep, and, as far as I can see, hasn't much to lose. No; her life's nothing to her, so what's the worth of nothing? She goes with me—it becomes something. Then she must pay—we both must pay! Folk are so frightened of paying; they'd rather starve and die."
"Very well, my son. We'll see how it will end."
"Very well, my mother. I'll abide by the end."
"We'll see!"
"And she's—she's awfully nice, mother; she is really! You don't know!"