“What does she do?” he asked again.
“Why, don’t you know what a street-walker is?”
“Not very well,” said Thyrsis.
It took some time for him to get the desired information, because the other could not realize the depths of his ignorance. “They sell themselves to men,” he said.
“But what for?” asked Thyrsis. “You don’t mean that they—they let them—-”
“They have intercourse together. Of course.”
Thyrsis was almost dumb with dismay. “But I should think they would have children!” he exclaimed.
“Good Lord, man!” laughed the other. “Where do you keep yourself, anyway?”
But Thyrsis was too much shaken to think of being ashamed. This was a most appalling revelation to him—it opened quite a new vista of life’s possibilities.
“But why should they do such things?” he cried.