Mrs. Horne comforted her as she would have comforted a daughter. She was thinking intently as she soothed. Presently she asked: "Judy, have you ever heard from Harry?"
"Never."
"Don't you know where he is?"
She felt Mrs. Vining's body stiffen.
"No—that is—no, I'm not sure. I don't know."
Mrs. Horne cleared her throat and offered the sort of consolation we are apt to accord our friends.
"You know, Judy, dear, what everybody said when Harry left. Of course, I knew it was all his own fault and his drinking. I never did believe what people said—"
"No, of course you didn't," said Mrs. Vining, with a trace of bitterness.
They fell silent again. At last Mrs. Vining moved.
"She's so sweet," she murmured. Shortly afterwards she kissed Mrs. Horne and rose to go to her own room.