Mrs. Lloyd-Evans: The mother cried a good deal, and said how ashamed she was that the girl should make such a return for all that’s been done for them down here. People have been very kind about employing her—I’ve sent washing there myself. (She charges less than the steam-laundry.) She was thoroughly upset, and one could have managed her all right. It’s the grandmother that’s so impossible, and the girl looks as though she could be thoroughly obstinate. I’m bound to say she was looking very ill, so one didn’t want to frighten her.
Mrs. Akers: Well, that doesn’t apply to the old woman. She must be squashed. Leave the grandmother to me if necessary. If there’s any difficulty about their letting Fanny go, I can say we shall inform the police. These people are perfectly ignorant of the law, and would probably believe anything. (She laughs in a slightly shamefaced, way.) After all, it’s for the girl’s own good.
Mrs. Ballantyne: Certainly, and besides, for their own sake they want to avoid exposure. The mother can be told that the Committee is taking the whole expense and trouble off her hands, and she’ll be only too thankful to let the girl go. She can come back when it’s all over, and if they’re careful, people needn’t know anything about it.
Mrs. Ballantyne: But what will happen—when——
Mrs. Lloyd-Evans: What?
Mrs. Ballantyne: What will be done with the—with the little——
Mrs. Akers: The results, you mean?
Mrs. Lloyd-Evans: Oh, the baby. In these sad cases, one almost hopes that it may not live, dreadful though it sounds to say such a thing.
Mrs. Akers: My husband tells me that in his experience, illegitimate children are often particularly strong and healthy infants.
Mrs. Lloyd-Evans: God’s ways are not our ways.