I can do nothing for a vicious girl." She resolved therefore to say nothing, or else to tell some lie or other quite wide of the mark.
Deplorable as this young woman's situation was, the duplicity and coarseness of mind which had brought her into it would have somewhat blunted the mental agony such a situation must inflict; but it was aggravated by a special terror; she knew that if she was found out she would lose the only sure friend she had in the world.
The fact is, Mary Wells had seen a great deal of life during the two years she was out of the reader's sight.

Rhoda had been very good to her; had set her up in a lodging-house, at her earnest request.

She misconducted it, and failed: threw it up in disgust, and begged Rhoda to put her in the public line.

Rhoda complied.

Mary made a mess of the public-house.