“I expect she’s had a jolly afternoon,” was all Lorraine said, with a smile. “She has been to the Zoo with Sir Edwin Crathie.”
“Has she?” significantly, and Hermon raised his eyebrows. “Are they still friends, then? I thought she only knew him slightly.”
“That was at the beginning,” and Lorraine glanced at him with the smile deepening in her eyes. “There always has to be a beginning—doesn’t there?”
But no answering smile shone in Alymer Hermon’s face, rather a slight shade of anxiety as he glanced across the room at Hal. “I should not like a sister of mine to have much to do with Sir Edwin Crathie,” he said gravely.
“Perhaps not, you dear old Solemn-acre,” giving his arm a gentle pat; “but a sister of yours would not have learned early to battle with the world as Hal has.”
“But surely if she is less protected than a sister of mine would have been, there is the greater cause for caution.”
“There is no comparision. A sister of yours would always have known protection, and always rely on it, and if it failed her she might find herself in difficulties and dangers she hardly knew how to cope with. Hal faced the difficulties and the dangers early, and learnt to be her own defence and protector. Some women have to, you see. It is necessary for them to wield weapons and armour out of their own strength, and be prepared to be buffeted by a heartless world, and not be afraid. If you had a sister, you would want to keep her in cotton-wool, and never let any rough, enlightening experience come near her. If I had a daughter, I should like her to have the enlightening experience early, and learn to be strong and self-dependent like Hal; then I shouldn’t be afraid of her future.”
She was silent a few moments, then added thoughtfully: “I think it would be better for society in general if the girls of the leisured classes knew more about the world, and were better able to take care of themselves; meaning, of course, with a pride like Hal’s in going straight because it’s the game.”
Hermon’s eyes again strayed to Hal’s pretty head, with its glossy brown hair, and Lorraine continued after a pause:
“If I’m afraid of anything with Hal, it is that she might let herself get to care for some one who isn’t worth her little finger, or some one who is out of her reach, or something generally impossible. She wouldn’t care lightly; and she’d get dreadfully hurt.”