Free Imprudent Lady by Joan Smith Page B

children for their “sins of the flesh,” as though they were experienced harlots. Prudence longed to stand up and tell the minister to stop. Glancing at her escort, she saw Dammler's hands clenched into fists, and his lips clamped in a rigid line. Their tour of the house was much more complete than yesterday's visit to Bedlam. They saw the dormitories where the girls slept, their narrow white cots lined up like loaves of bread at a baker's. They saw the girls at work, cleaning the building, cooking, sewing, scrubbing, and also saw them sit down to eat at an uncovered table, each with a bowl and a spoon, and a half a glass of blue milk. Dammler even asked for a bowl of the stew they ate. He took one bite and had difficulty in swallowing it.
    After the tour they went to the manager's office for tea, which was served on fine china from a silver pot, at noticeable odds with the girls’ meal. Dammler asked a number of questions, a great many having to do with money. Prudence was surprised at his practical streak. She had assumed his interest, like hers, would be in the girls’ personal histories.
    “How many girls do you accommodate here?” he asked.
    “A hundred at a time,” Dr. Mulroney answered. He was the minister who had given the sermon, also the chief executive of the place.
    “And how long do they stay on the average?"
    “About six months, depending, of course, on how advanced their condition is when they come in."
    “You mean how soon they give birth to the child?” Dammler clarified.
    Mulroney looked at Prudence as though to intimate such matters were not for a lady's ears. Dammler ignored this.
    “Yes, just so. We used to have about two hundred girls a year through here—less when I came. Only one hundred and fifty prior to my taking over. I raised it to two hundred, and am aiming for two hundred and twenty-five this year."
    “Are you on a commission?” Dammler asked. Prudence wasn't sure whether he was serious, or if it was a setdown.
    “Certainly not! I do not undertake work of this sort for any monetary consideration,” Mulroney answered, offended.
    “What is done to prepare them to leave? If they come out of here without having learned any useful skill, they'll end up back on the streets."
    “You have been at the church service, milord. They attend service three times a day, and extra Bible readings on Sunday, and for punishment if they misbehave. We hope to raise their morals to awaken them to the dangers of immortal hell if they persist in their abandoned behaviour."
    “You'd do better to raise their ability to make an honest living."
    “Each girl is given a Bible upon leaving."
    “Yes, she can hawk that, but what does she do the next night, when the shilling is gone?"
    Dr. Mulroney lifted his eyebrows at this. Prudence felt Dammler was going a little far, but knew there was no hope of curbing him. “They are not released without having a place to go. They are usually placed in a home as a domestic servant."
    “Are the homes carefully selected?"
    “Selected—what do you mean? I don't understand the import of your question, my lord."
    “It must have occurred to you gentlemen of a sort will come here looking for domestics."
    “They are well-to-do families we place the girls with."
    “Money is beside the point; the girls will see little or nothing of it. What of the morals?"
    “You can't expect me to ask a gentleman such a question!” Again Mulroney looked at Prudence with an uncomfortable expression.
    “No, asking them would certainly be pointless. Character references could be obtained though."
    “What—ask character references for the hiring of a servant who is costing the city twenty-five pounds a year to keep? Upon my word, I never heard of such a thing. We are lucky to be rid of these—girls—to whomever will take them off our hands."
    “Surely you don't consider yourself an employment agency! Your job is to restore these girls to a decent life. Their success depends on