“That is so thoughtful,” Zelda said, plainly impressed. “Just think. I actually invited her into our home that day. Heaven knows what she might have done.”

“Indeed,” Mr. Waterson agreed.

“But perhaps it was more than just your sense of responsibility that led you to us today,” Cybil said, surprising both Zelda and Waterson.

Waterson smiled kindly. “What else could it have been?”

Cybil smiled mysteriously. “Fate.”

Waterson glanced speculatively around their cluttered parlor. “Are you thinking of offering your own home as a refuge, Miss Miles?”

Cybil couldn’t help but smile. “Not my own house, but perhaps another one. I have recently come into an inheritance that I have been tasked with allocating to some good work. I can’t help wondering if your arrival here isn’t a sign that your refuge is the good work I should support.”

“My goodness, Miss Miles, I can hardly believe it. I would never have suspected . . . I mean, how wonderful for you to have such an opportunity to do some real good in the world.”

“I do count myself fortunate, Mr. Waterson. Tell me, how much money will you need to purchase the house you are thinking of?”

Mr. Waterson hemmed and hawed a bit, apparently reluctant to discuss money with a female. Cybil got the impression he was actually debating with himself how much he could take her for. Finally, he admitted he could purchase the house for around ten thousand dollars, but that it would need a lot of work to make it worthy of its intended purpose.

“Ten thousand?” Zelda marveled. “It must be a rather large house.”

“It was once a rich man’s mansion, but he fell on hard times.”

“And let it fall into ruin, I imagine,” Zelda said, plainly trying to imagine it.

“Sadly, yes. But I will be happy to fill it with young women who are determined to make something of themselves.”

“What do you suppose they can make of themselves?” Cybil asked with genuine interest.

“I would hope many of them become virtuous wives and mothers. Others might be teachers, as you two ladies are.”

Very predictable, but Cybil couldn’t argue with his goals.

“I would appreciate any help you can give me toward purchasing the house,” he continued. “I don’t expect you can fund the entire enterprise—”

“But you can expect exactly that, Mr. Waterson,” Cybil said. “I hardly thought I would be able to accomplish such an important purpose with such a small portion of my inheritance.”

He wasn’t able to hide his surprise. “That’s very generous of you, Miss Miles.”

“Nonsense. It isn’t even my money, not really. I suppose legally it is, but I accepted it on the condition that it would be used for charitable purposes.”

“Your good heart does you credit, Miss Miles. I can hardly find the words to thank you.”

“No thanks are necessary.”