that curious inflection on the "present."

"Oh, yes, and so do my people; they think all the world of her."

"Of Miss Morton?" Shocked astonishment was in Mrs. Trent's voice.

"I was not speaking of Miss Morton just then, but of the lady she is
with. I've no doubt, though," said Miles stoutly, "they'd think just
the same of Miss Morton if they knew her. They may know her, too; it's
just a chance we've never discussed her."

"It is very difficult and painful for me to say what I have got to say
... but if Miss Morton is in charge of the children of a friend of your
family, I think you ought to know she is not a suitable person to be
anything of the kind."

"I say!" Miles exclaimed, "that's a pretty stiff thing to say about any
girl; a dangerous thing to say; especially about one who seems to need
to earn her own living."

"I know it is; I hate to say it ... but it seemed to me the other day--I
hope I was mistaken--that you were rather ... attracted, and knowing
what I do I felt I must speak, must warn you."

Miles got up. He seemed to tower above the table and dwarf the whole
room. "I'd rather not hear any more, Mrs. Trent, please. It seems too
beastly mean somehow for me to sit here and listen to scandal about a
poor little unprotected girl who works hard and faithfully--mind you,
I've seen her with those children, and she's perfectly wonderful. Don't
you see yourself how I can't _do_ it?"

Mrs. Trent sat on where she was and smiled at Miles, slowly shaking her
head. "Sit down, my dear boy. Your feelings do you credit; but we
mustn't be sentimental, and facts are facts. I have every reason to know
what I'm talking about, for some years ago Miss Morton was in my
service."

Miles did not sit down. He stood where he was, glowering down at Mrs.
Trent.

"That doesn't brand her, does it?" he asked.

Still smiling maternally at him, Mrs. Trent continued: "She left my
service when she ran away with Mr. Walter Brooke--you know him, I think?
Disgraceful though it was, I must say this of him, that he never made
any concealment of the fact that he was a married man. She did it with
her eyes open."

"If," Miles growled, "all this happened 'some years ago' she must have
been about twelve at the time, and Brooke ought to have been hounded out
of society long ago."

"I needn't say that _we_ have cut him ever since. She was, I believe,
about nineteen at the time. She did not remain with him, but you can
understand that,