Indeed I think he was the chief murderer." "Oh, you do, do you ?" and Mr.Arbroath frowned heavily--"And you call yourself a respectable woman ?" Mary smiled, and resuming her seat, bent her head intently over her lace work.
Arbroath stood irresolute, gazing at her.

He was a sensual man, and her physical beauty annoyed him.

He would have liked to sit down alone with her and take her hand in his own and talk to her about her "soul" while gloating over her body.

But in the "old tramp's" presence there was nothing to be done.

So he assumed a high moral tone.
"Accidents will happen,"-- he said, sententiously--"If a child gets into the way of a motor going at full speed, it is bound to be unfortunate--for the child.