“Be thankful you’ve been spared the sorrow of one going astray,” said Anne.  “It’s a proud thing to have a lot of sons all honest, good men.”

As if she had divined Anne’s thoughts, or something in her words had suggested it to her, Mrs Crowther said suddenly—­

“You’ve heard about that Burton getting hold of Jane Evans, have you?”

“I’ve just come back from there now,” said Anne.  “I only heard of it the other day, and I went to see if I could get her away.  I blame myself sadly for its having happened.”

“He’s a bad effect in the country, that Burton, with his horses and money,” said Mrs Crowther decidedly.  “It’s bad for young men to see money got so easily.  He doesn’t drink, I fancy.  At least I said to Matthew, ‘What’s wrong with that Burton, does he drink?’ ‘No,’ he says.  ‘At least, I don’t think so,’ he says; ’but he takes it out in eating.  He’s an easy liver,’ he says.  And what a foolish girl that is to give away her character for a man like him.  If she was in trouble she might have come to any of us, and we’d have done anything in reason.”

“I suppose that was just it,” said Anne.  “He was there before we were ready, and the poor girl thought he was her only friend.”

“Well! she’s a foolish girl,” repeated Mrs Crowther, in the tone of one who having young people to protect could take no part in excuses.  “Why, there’s that young Wilkinson, that’s booking-clerk at the station, said to our John, ‘I was a bit sweet on that girl myself,’ he said, ’but if that’s the sort she is, I’m not having any.’  He’s a bit conceited, and thinks a lot of his clothes, but he’s steady enough.  Had she the face to come and see you when you went?” she added with curiosity.

“I saw them both,” said Anne, sadly.  “She’s quite under his influence.  I can’t do much for her now.  Perhaps she’ll come of her own accord if we show her we’re her friends.”

“Well, I don’t know as you can ever do much for people that will have their own way.”

“If she isn’t driven any further—­” began Anne.

“I don’t know,” said Mrs Crowther, with emphasis; “you must make a difference.  There’s plenty of girls kept themselves decent who were just as poor, and if everybody’s to be treated the same, no matter how they behave, it’s very hard on them.  I don’t believe in that sort o’ thing.  If you do wrong you must bear the consequences, or what’s the good of keeping honest.  It’s confusing to young people to get such ideas, and it does a lot of harm, Miss Hilton.  You never had any young people to bring up.  It’s that that alters your mind about those things.  There’s our William.  He’s not one for saying much.  He’s one of the old-fashioned kind.  He’s a kind of serious way of talking.  Many a time we laugh at him, and say, ‘For goodness sake, do stir up and laugh a bit.’  I says to him privately, ‘What do you think of it, William?’ ’I’ve no respect for her whatever,’ he says.  ’If a sister of mine was to go that way, she’d have seen the last of her brother.’  That’s how they think you see, Miss Hilton, and you can’t say they shouldn’t.”