Affected slightly by her cold dismissal of his subject, he paused for a moment. But his own point of view was too strong to be shaken by this woman’s light words.
“I suppose if she wasn’t from my town—” At his words the vision of Letty Lane with the coral strands on her dress, came before his eyes, and he said honestly: “But I do take an interest in her just the same, and she’s going to pieces, that’s clear. Something ought to be done.”
The Duchess of Breakwater was very much annoyed.
“Are you going to talk about her all the time?” she asked with sharp sweetness. “You are not very flattering, Dan.”
And he returned peacefully, “Why, I thought you might be able to help her in some way or another.”
“Me!” She laughed aloud. “Me help Letty Lane? Really—”
“Why, you might get her to sing out here,” he suggested. “That would sort of get hold of her; women know how to do those things.”
His preposterous simplicity overwhelmed her. She stirred her tea, and said, controlling herself, “Why, what on earth would you have me to say to Letty Lane?”
“Oh, just be nice to her,” he suggested. “Tell her to take care of herself and to brace up. Get some nice woman to—”
The duchess helped him. “To reform her?”