"
"I have suited her with other young ladies. I have heard of her from
them."
"And they have spoken well of her?"
"Discounting the prejudice of a late employee, they have spoken well."
"Was her son there with them?"
"They have not told me so."
"Ah!" said Mary; sat back in her chair.
"Then your version is about the son?"
Mary nodded. Recollection put a silly lump in her throat.
Miss Ram said: "Miss Humfray, when I received that letter from Mrs.
Chater, I said I would have no more to do with you. I told Miss Porter
I would not see you. Why, out of all my ladies, do you come back to me
characterless from your situations? I will listen to your story. Make
it very brief. Don't exaggerate. I have sat in this chair for
seventeen years. I can distinguish in a minute between facts and
spleen. You desire to tell your version?"
"I must," Mary said. "What I'd like to do would be to get up and say,
'If you doubt me, I'll not trouble to convince you.' I'd like to walk
out and leave you and face anything rather than 'explain.' Why should
I 'explain' to anybody? But I'm not going to walk out. I haven't the
pluck. I know what it is like to be alone out there." She gave a
little choke. "I've learnt that much, anyway." She went on. "I'll just
tell you, that's all. I don't want your sympathy; I only want your
sense of justice.
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