"Oh, Lord, no, not now. He was at first, but he's getting tired."
"I should cut the brute."
"What would I do?" she said sadly, "what would I do? I've no character or money or anything. I'd have to go to the Empire promenade, I expect."
She stretched out her hands to the blaze wearily.
"Poor little girl," he said, taking one of her hands in his, "poor little girl, it's a nasty, miserable world."
She said nothing for half a minute, and then she burst into an agony of tears, dropping her head on his shoulder.
"Oh, don't, dear, don't!" said Gobion, half crying too; "try to bear up."
"You don't know what it means. You're not an outcast."
"Yes I am, dear, I'm a good deal worse than you. I have a hell, too. Be a brave girl."
She smiled faintly through her tears.