He remembered all that she had said to him before, and suddenly his disgust was turned into overwhelming pity.

This child before him--for she was little more than a child--had bottomed degradation.

For the temporary protection and favour of a man that she guessed to be kind there was nothing in earth or in hell that she would not do.

And in her already were the seeds of the disease that was all but certain to slay her.
He turned again to the bed, and knelt beside it.

"Poor little girl," he said, and lightly brushed her hair.