When they finally reached Mr. Gray’s lodging place the woman who answered Virginia’s knock said that both Mr. and Mrs. Gray were out somewhere and would not be back until six o’clock.

Virginia had not planned anything farther than a possible appeal to the Grays, either to take charge of Loreen for a while or find some safe place for her until she was sober.  She stood now at the door after the woman had spoken, and she was really at a loss to know what to do.  Loreen sank down stupidly on the steps and buried her face in her arms.  Virginia eyed the miserable figure of the girl with a feeling that she was afraid would grow into disgust.

Finally a thought possessed her that she could not escape.  What was to hinder her from taking Loreen home with her?  Why should not this homeless, wretched creature, reeking with the fumes of liquor, be cared for in Virginia’s own home instead of being consigned to strangers in some hospital or house of charity?  Virginia really knew very little about any such places of refuge.  As a matter of fact, there were two or three such institutions in Raymond, but it is doubtful if any of them would have taken a person like Loreen in her present condition.  But that was not the question with Virginia just now.  “What would Jesus do with Loreen?” That was what Virginia faced, and she finally answered it by touching the girl again.

“Loreen, come.  You are going home with me.  We will take the car here at the corner.”

Loreen staggered to her feet and, to Virginia’s surprise, made no trouble.  She had expected resistance or a stubborn refusal to move.  When they reached the corner and took the car it was nearly full of people going uptown.  Virginia was painfully conscious of the stare that greeted her and her companion as they entered.  But her thought was directed more and more to the approaching scene with her grandmother.  What would Madam Page say?

Loreen was nearly sober now.  But she was lapsing into a state of stupor.  Virginia was obliged to hold fast to her arm.  Several times the girl lurched heavily against her, and as the two went up the avenue a curious crowd of so-called civilized people turned and gazed at them.  When she mounted the steps of her handsome house Virginia breathed a sigh of relief, even in the face of the interview with the grandmother, and when the door shut and she was in the wide hall with her homeless outcast, she felt equal to anything that might now come.

Madam Page was in the library.  Hearing Virginia come in, she came into the hall.  Virginia stood there supporting Loreen, who stared stupidly at the rich magnificence of the furnishings around her.

“Grandmother,” Virginia spoke without hesitation and very clearly, “I have brought one of my friends from the Rectangle.  She is in trouble and has no home.  I am going to care for her here a little while.”

Madam Page glanced from her granddaughter to Loreen in astonishment.