"I thought she was a young girl. But, if she's as old as that—and bad—"
"Bad? Bad?"
He rose and looked down on her in anger.
"She's good. You don't know what you're talking about. She isn't a lady, but she's as gentle and as modest as you are yourself. She's sweet, and kind, and loving. She's the most unworldly and unselfish creature I ever met. All the time I've known her she never did a selfish thing. She was absolutely devoted. She'd have stripped herself bare of everything she possessed if it would have done me any good. Why, the very thing you blame the poor little soul for, only proves that she hadn't a thought for herself. It would have been better for her if she'd had. And you talk of 'reclaiming' a woman like that! You want to turn your preposterous committee on to her, to decide whether she's good enough to be taken and shut up in one of your beastly institutions! No. On the whole, I think she'll be better off if you leave her to me."
"Say at once that you think I'd better leave you to her, since you think her perfect."
"She was perfect to me. She gave me all she had to give. She couldn't very well do more."
"You mean she helped you to sin. So, of course, you condone her sin."
"I should be an utter brute if I didn't stand up for her, shouldn't I?"
"Yes." She admitted it. "I suppose you feel that you must defend her. Can you defend yourself, Walter?"
He was silent.