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shall take steps to insure that she is given that choice." An ironic smile glimmered at this threat before the Temple of Venus's proprietress responded. "No. She is not here of her own choice, but then, none of us is." There was no missing the sarcastic note in her voice. "I see you look surprised. Do you honestly think that any of us would wish to do this if we had any alternative?"
    Somewhat taken aback, Harriet stammered, "Why—no, I suppose not, but then I know very little of such things."
    "Fortunately for you," her hostess remarked dryly. "Bessie was forced into this, er, choice by the time I met her. I merely assured her her safety and well-being by offering her my protection."
    "Your protection?" Harriet echoed stupidly. Truly, things were not going at all as she had anticipated—not that she had known precisely what to expect, but she had certainly not 32
    My Wayward Lady
    by Evelyn Richardson
    thought to find that the owner of such an establishment would resemble a respectable merchant's wife more closely than she did anything else. Indeed, nothing so far had given the slightest indication that this discreetly elegant house lived up to the name Temple of Venus.
    Mrs. Lovington continued to survey her unexpected visitor, her rather severe expression softening a little. Certainly the young lady seemed genuinely concerned for her friend from the country, and there was not the least hint of condescension or condemnation in her charming countenance, which expressed nothing so much as lively curiosity.
    "Yes, protection. You see, I know what a difficult life one like Bessie's can be—disgraced and abandoned, forced to earn your own living. With no one to help you or to give you references there is but one thing to do and that leaves you at the mercy of your, ah, patrons. I give girls like Bessie a decent place to live and provide them with a background that is exclusive enough so that they only meet people of quality." Something in Harriet's face caused Mrs. Lovington to lean forward, her voice low and earnest. "I assure you, I found Bessie on the streets where she had been plying her trade for some time before I met her. But perhaps you would now like to speak with Bessie yourself." She reached up and gave the nearby bellpull a vigorous tug.
    Bessie must have been waiting very nearby for the door opened almost immediately and she appeared in a demure morning dress of primrose jaconet with a delicate fichu and a lace collar trimmed with matching ribbon. She smiled shyly at 33
    My Wayward Lady
    by Evelyn Richardson
    Harriet as she took her seat. "Good day, my lady. I knew how it would be and I warned Mrs. Lovington that you would visit." Harriet leaned forward. "You look very well, Bessie. Are you happy here?" A shadow flitted across Bessie's face, but she answered readily enough. "Oh yes, my lady. We are all well looked after and Mrs. Lovington is ever so good to us." The grateful look she directed at the proprietress of the Temple of Venus left no doubt in the visitors' minds that Mrs. Lovington at least had nothing to do with any unhappiness that Bessie might be suffering.
    At this moment Mrs. Lovington, apparently having assessed the situation to her satisfaction and concluding that Bessie's welfare was not threatened in the least by her surprise caller, rose and, smiling graciously at Harriet and Rose, prepared to depart. "I can see you are anxious to discuss old times and share news of mutual acquaintances so I shall leave you to yourselves. I shall have Jamison bring you some refreshment. Do ring for more if you wish." With that she closed the door behind her leaving the three women alone to a rather awkward silence.
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    34
    My Wayward Lady
    by Evelyn Richardson

Chapter 4
    Harriet was the first to recover herself and she proceeded straight to the question in her customarily blunt manner.
    "Bessie, what ever are you doing in a place like this? This is not like you. Why I had thought you