"Are you going to help beat us?" Mary asked quietly.
Mrs. Bosanquet pursed up her fat, good-natured lips.
"I can't help myself. I'm really sorry——"
"Rubbish! If you were sorry, you wouldn't do it."
"I've got to think of the Judge——"
"Well, I've got Archie. He's got his career, too."
"He'll get into trouble with the regiment."
"It's more than likely. We're not going to—to behave like cads on that account."
Mrs. Bosanquet got up, leaning heavily on her gold-topped stick. She had reddened slightly, but otherwise remained benignly unruffled.
"Quite right, my dear. I applaud. The trouble is that the majority of us are cads at the bottom—that is, we think of our own safety first. I'm sure I do. The station will ostracize Sigrid—has begun to ostracize her already. I can't stem the tide, and I shan't try."