I guess she`ll get her fine clothes spoilt," said Mrs. Davidson with a bitter sneer.
Davidson did not come in till they were half way through dinner. He was wet through, but he would not change. He sat, morose and silent, refusing to eat more than a mouthful, and he stared at the slanting rain. When Mrs. Davidson told him of their two encounters with Miss Thompson he did not answer. His deepening frown alone showed that he had heard.
"Don`t you think we ought to make Mr. Horn turn her out of here?" asked Mrs. Davidson. "We can`t allow her to insult us."
"There doesn`t seem to be any other place for her to go," said Macphail.
"She can live with one of the natives."
"In weather like this a native hut must be a rather uncomfortable place to live in."
"I lived in one for years," said the missionary.
When the little native girl brought in the fried bananas which formed the sweet they had every day, Davidson turned to her.
"Ask Miss Thompson when it would be convenient for me to see her," he said.
The girl nodded shyly and went out.
"What do you want to see her for, Alfred?" asked his wife.
"It`s my duty to see her. I won`t act till I`ve given her every chance."
"You don`t know what she is. She`ll insult you."
"Let her insult me. Let her spit on me. She has an immortal soul, and I must do all that is in my power to save it."
Mrs. Davidson`s ears rang still with the harlot`s mocking laughter.
"She`s gone too far."
"Too far for the mercy of God?" His eyes lit up suddenly and his voice grew mellow and soft.
"Never. The sinner may be deeper in sin than the depth of hell itself, but the love of the Lord Jesus can reach him still."
The girl came back with the message.
"Miss Thompson`s compliments and as long as Rev. Davidson don`t come in business hours she`ll be glad to see him any time."
The party received it in stony silence, and Dr. Macphail quickly effaced from his lips the smile which had come upon them. He knew his wife would be vexed with him if he found Miss Thompson`s effrontery amusing.