smile. âWould it be better for you to tell me more about the hostel, rather than have me ask a lot of questions?â
She considered, and then answered: âIf you will answer me one question satisfactorily, I will gladly answer all of yours.â
âThatâs fair enough,â said Rollison, feeling more and more curious every moment. âIâll try to be satisfactory!â
âThank you. The question is, are you strongly prejudiced against young women whom you call âfallen angelsâ? Do you condemn them out of hand as being beyond the pale?â
Rollison began to like this woman very much. He settled further back in his chair, placed the tips of his fingers together and appeared to look over the rim of non-existent glasses. He contrived, in those moments, to appear a little like the caricature of a pedantic parson.
âNo,â he said. âI do not. On the other hand I donât see the wisdom or expediency of encouraging them unduly.â After a fractional pause, he went on: âIs that satisfactory?â
âYes,â she said, smiling again. âYes. Ask me whatever you wish.â
âVery well,â said Rollison. âWill you stay for lunch?â
She was obviously taken aback, almost confused.
âHow very nice of you! Iââ there was another fractional pause. âYes, I would like that very much. Thank you.â
âI have a feeling weâre going to need a little time,â said Rollison. âExcuse me.â He pressed a bell push in the wall by the fireplace where logs replaced the winterâs fires. âIt wonât be anything fancy . . . Oh, Jolly, Mrs Smith will be staying to lunch.â
âVery good, sir,â Jolly said, and withdrew.
Naomi Smith looked at the doorway in which he had appeared for a moment, but repressed the impulse to comment on Jolly. She seemed to settle back in her chair, more at ease. Rollison, having had time to study her, found it difficult to explain his first reaction; she was plain, certainly, but somehow, when studied feature, by feature, there seemed no reason for the general effect.
She looked back at him.
âExactly what would you like to know, Mr Rollison?â
âI think Iâd like to learn more about these angels. How many are there?â
âWhen we are full - twenty-five.â
âAnd they can all afford the hostel?â
âI donât quite understand you.â
âIsnât the kind of hostel you have described expensive?â
âThe girls donât pay,â she said.
Rollison said, groping: âYou mean this is a state-sponsored institution?â
âNo,â answered Naomi Smith, her expression changing as if something had touched her with disappointment. âYou are prejudiced against young people, arenât you?â
âNot knowingly,â replied Rollison. âWhat makes you think so?â
âYour last remark made it sound as if you were about to say that it was time young people fended for themselves, instead of being spoon-fed by the state.â
Rollison chuckled.
âAnd that is exactly what I feel about some youngsters. Donât you ?â The question came very quickly and there was a glint in his eyes.
She hesitated; and then laughed in turn.
âI suppose I do, about some. Have I given the impression that I - and the hostel supporters - are overindulgent towards the girls?â
âYou have, rather,â said Rollison frankly. âWill you have another gin and French?â
She looked speculatively at her glass, before saying: âNo thank you. Mr Rollisonââ
âYes?â
âI really am deeply troubled, and I really think from what Iâve heard of you that you are perhaps the only man who both could and would help. It is true that the girls are indulged in some ways. The problem of each, differs in kind, of course, and each one needs special treatment and
David Sherman & Dan Cragg