just.

Miss Rowly reflected too. She was becoming convinced that in
principle the girl was right. But the details were repugnant as ever
to her; concentrating her mind on the point where she felt the ground
firm under her, she made her objection:

'But, Stephen dear, there are so many cases that are sordid and
painful!'

'The more need to know of sordid things; if sordidness plays so
important a part in the tragedy of their lives!'

'But there are cases which are not within a woman's province. Cases
that touch sin . . . '

'What kind of sin do you mean? Surely all wrong-doing is sin!' The
old lady was embarrassed. Not by the fact, for she had been for too
many years the mistress of a great household not to know something of
the subject on which she spoke, but that she had to speak of such a
matter to the young girl whom she so loved.

'The sin, my dear, of . . . of woman's wrong-doing . . . as woman . .
. of motherhood, without marriage!' All Stephen's nature seemed to
rise in revolt.

'Why, Auntie,' she spoke out at once, 'you yourself show the want of
the very experience I look for!'

'How? what?' asked the old lady amazed and bristling. Stephen took