“Next you must tell me whether you have gathered anything. I have often noticed your insight, dear. I only wish my own was as good. You may have guessed something, even though your sister said nothing. The slightest hint would help us.”
“Who is ‘we’?”
“I thought it best to ring up Charles.”
“That was unnecessary,” said Margaret, growing warmer. “This news will give Charles disproportionate pain.”
“He has at once gone to call on your brother.”
“That too was unnecessary.”
“Let me explain, dear, how the matter stands. You don’t think that I and my son are other than gentlemen? It is in Helen’s interests that we are acting. It is still not too late to save her name.”
Then Margaret hit out for the first time. “Are we to make her seducer marry her?” she asked.
“If possible. Yes.”
“But, Henry, suppose he turned out to be married already? One has heard of such cases.”