'You won't influence him; he's dreadful against her. Such a house as it is to-day!'
'Well, my dear, naturally.'
'Yes, but it's terrible for me: it's all more sickening than I can bear.'
'My dear child, come and stay with me,' said the old woman, gently.
'Oh, I can't desert her; I can't abandon her!'
'Desert—abandon? What a way to put it! Hasn't she abandoned you?'
'She has no heart—she's too base!' said the girl. Her face was white and the tears now began to rise to her eyes again.
Lady Davenant got up and came and sat on the sofa beside her: she put her arms round her and the two women embraced. 'Your room is all ready,' the old lady remarked. And then she said, 'When did she leave you? When did you see her last?'
'Oh, in the strangest, maddest, crudest way, the way most insulting to me. We went to the opera together and she left me there with a gentleman. We know nothing about her since.'