“Not very.” He forced a smile, but his face was grave, for, despite his suffering, the problem which this accidental meeting had forced upon him filled his thoughts. What was he to do with this girl? In spite of the statement that she had “kept track” of her last few years he could not credit the fact that she was approximately eighteen; fourteen would be nearer the guess he would have made, and it was unthinkable that a child like that should wander about the country alone.
He could not bear the thought of betraying her innocent confidences by handing her over to the nearest authorities; it would mean her being held as a vagrant and possibly sent to the county poor-farm. Perhaps the people with whom she had been placed were not so bad, after all; if he took her back and reasoned with them, insisted upon their keeping to 20their bargain, and giving her lighter tasks to perform.
Then he remembered his own appearance, and smiled ruefully. Instead of listening they would in all probability set the dog on him. Perhaps he could persuade her to return of her own accord.
“The people you were working for; their name was ‘Hess’?” he asked.
She nodded as she finished fastening the cool compress about his forehead.
“Henry Hess an’ his wife, Freida, an’–an’ Max.”
Something in the quality of her tone more than her hesitation made him demand sharply:
“Who is Max?”
“Their son.” Her voice was very low, but for the first time it trembled slightly.
“You don’t like him, do you?” He waited a moment, and then added abruptly: “Why not?”