She turned her large eyes towards him. “Oh no, Ferdy, there can be none indeed! You see, she told me everything! She is not a wicked girl — I am sure she is not! She is quite simple, and she did not know what she was doing!”
“They all say that,” said Mr Ringwood gloomily.
“How can you, Gil? I had not thought you would be so unjust!” Hero cried. “She is nothing but a country maid, and I can tell that her father is a very good sort of man — respectable, I mean, for no sooner did he discover the dreadful truth than he cast her out of his home, and will not have anything to say to her, which always seems to me shockingly cruel, though Cousin Jane says it is to be expected, because of the wages of sin, which comes in the Bible! Indeed, she is quite an innocent girl, for how could it be otherwise when she believed in Sir Montagu’s promise to marry her? Why, even I know better than that!”
Ferdy, who had been listening intently, said at this point: “Now, that’s a thing I wouldn’t do, Gil! One thing to seduce a girl — though, mind you, I think it’s a mistake, myself! Only leads to trouble, and the lord knows there are plenty of ladybirds on the town! — quite another to tell her you mean to marry her. Dash it, too smoky by half!”
Disregarding this interruption, Hero hurried on: “Sherry, she is in such distress! I do not know how she has survived, and if it had not been for a good natured woman who took pity on her, she must have died of starvation! But it seems that this woman is one of the fruit women at the Opera House, and perhaps Ruth ought not to stay with her, for I recall that you told me, Sherry, that those women — ”
“Yes, well, never mind that!” said Sherry hastily.
“Oh no! I remember you said I must not mention it! But the thing is that she took Ruth in, for Ruth came to London to find Sir Montagu, never dreaming that he would refuse even to see her! But he is the most heartless — Sherry, indeed I am sorry to speak so of a friend of yours, but it is beyond anything! To seduce this poor, ignorant girl — for that is what he did — !”
“Yes, but wait a moment, Kitten!” protested Sherry. “Where? I mean, if she is a simple country maid, as you say she is, I don’t see — ”
“It was when he was staying in Hertfordshire last winter. I did not know of it, but I dare say you will, Sherry: Ruth says he has an uncle who lives near Hitchin. And it seems he had gone down to stay with him for Christmas, and that is how he met Ruth.”
Mr Ringwood nodded. “That’s true enough, Sherry. Old Fortescue Revesby. Expectations,” he added darkly.