Margot:  “Tell me what you did.”

The woman:  “Only what all you fashionable women do every day ...”

Margot:  “What?”

The woman:  “I helped those who were in trouble to get rid of their babies.”

Margot:  “Did you take money for it?”

The woman:  “Sometimes I did it for nothing.”

Margot:  “What sort of women did you help?”

The woman:  “Oh, quite poor women!”

Margot:  “When you charged them, how much money did you ask for?”

The woman:  “Four or five pounds and often less.”

Margot:  “Was your husband a respectable man and did he know anything about it?”

The woman:  “My husband was highly respected.  He was a stone-mason, and well to do, and knew nothing at all till I was arrested. ...  He thought I made money sewing.”

Margot:  “Poor man, how tragic!”

After this rather stupid ejaculation of mine, she relapsed into a frozen silence and I got up off the ground and asked her if she liked books.  No answer.  If the food was good?  No answer.  If her bed was clean and comfortable?  But all my questions were in vain.  At last she broke the silence by saying: 

“You said just now that you might be able to help me.  There is only one thing in the world that I want, and you could not help to get it . ...  No one can help me ...”

Margot:  “Tell me what you want.  How can I or any one else help you while you sit on the ground, neither speaking nor eating?  Get up and I will listen to you; otherwise I shall go away.”

After this she got up stiffly and lifted her arms in a stretch above her head, showing the outline of her fine bust.  I said to her: 

“I would like to help you.”

The woman:  “I want to see one person and only one.  I think of nothing else and wonder night and day how it could be managed.”

Margot:  “Tell me who it is, this one person, that you think of and want so much to see.”

The woman:  “I want to see Mrs. Asquith.”

Margot (dumb with surprise):  “Why?”

The woman:  “Because she is only just married and will never again have as much influence over her husband as she has now; and I am told she is kind ...”

Margot (moving towards her):  “I am Mrs. Asquith.”

At this the woman gave a sort of howl and, shivering, with her teeth set, flung herself at my feet and clasped my ankles with an iron clutch.  I should have fallen, but, loosening her hold with great rapidity, she stood up and, facing me, held me by my shoulders.  The door opened and the matron appeared, at which the woman sprang at her with a tornado of oaths, using strange words that I had never heard before.  I tried to silence her, but in vain, so I told the matron that she might go and find out if my husband was ready for me.  She did not move and seemed put out by my request.