The children she came to regard as her peculiar care. Her strong
common sense taught her that it was with these that most could be
done. The parents could not be reformed; at best they might be kept
from that darkest depth of poverty which corrupts soul and body
alike. But might not the girls be somehow put into the way of
earning a decent livelihood? Ida knew so well the effect upon them
of the occupations to which they mostly turned, occupations
degrading to womanhood, blighting every hope. Even to give them the
means of remaining at home would not greatly help them; there they
still breathed a vile atmosphere. To remove them altogether was the
only efficient way, and how could that be done?
The months of late summer and autumn saw several more
garden-parties. These, Ida knew, were very useful, but more enduring
things must be devised. Miss Hurst was the only person with whom she
could consult, and that lady's notions were not very practical. If
only she could have spoken freely with Waymark; but that she could
no longer on any subject, least of all on this. As winter set in, he
had almost forsaken her. He showed no interest in her life, beyond
asking occasionally what she was reading, and taking the opportunity
to talk of books.
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