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is,” said she.” Not so much for the worse or better — simply altered so that I scarce know him. I believe that Jack understands him now better than I —and I, after all, am Tom’s mother. You, Jeremy!”
    She gestured broadly at me — pointing.
    What did she mean? What had I done? “Yes, ma’am?”
    “You probably also understand him.”
    “In vhat way?”
    “Well, ” said she, “you must tell me. Can you understand why he is so eager to return to that … that vessel?”
    “The H.M.S. Ai’entarer
    “Call it what you like. Why does he wish to go back?”
    “If I have it aright from what he said, ” I began, “it is not so much the ship that attracts him, nor those aboard, it is rather the life upon the sea that moves him so.”
    “But ii’/py?”
    “Well, ma’am, the physical rigors, the dangers, the chance to prove himself a man.”
    “As a man!” She gave a most joyless laugh at that.” He is but a boy. I do not comprehend, nor have I ever, this pell-mell rush to manhood, this love of danger. It may be,” said she, musing upon the matter, “that Tom nor any other has much control upon it; that at some appointed hour in each boy there is an alarum that sends him off in pursuit of who knows what folly whose achievement marks manhood, be it martial, intellectual, or car — ” She broke off, as if just having come to a realization of some sort.” Jeremy?”
    “Yes, ma’am?”
    “I wonder would you do me a special service?”
    “Gladly.”
    “I have a great jumble of clothes that I have so far collected for the Magdalene Home. Perhaps you can help me load them in a hackney carriage. The ladies will unload them swift enough, I’m quite sure. I had intended to ask Tom to do this and accompany me so he would have some notion of what it is has involved me this past year. Yet why not let him sleep, eh? I take it he was deep in the arms of Morpheus when you left him?”
    “Oh, indeed yes. He was like unto a dead man.”
    “Very good,” said she.” Well then, after you have brought the tray to Mrs. Gredge, I should like you to go out to Bow Street and flag down a hackney carriage. Bring it round, and we shall load it up together. No need even to mention Magdalene to Tom.”
    The Magdalene Home for Penitent Prostitutes had been the better part of a year a-birthing, midwifed into existence jointly by Sir John and Lady Fielding. Her idea it was, and his the energy and practical planning that brought it forth to substantial reality. Even I had made a modest contribution, for who but me had carried Sir John’s begging letters about town?
    Thus was the plan circulated and thus was the money collected. If those first donors did not perhaps shower guineas down upon Sir John and Lady Katherine, they were at least sufficiently generous so that a sturdy house could be bought and rebuilt within as she would have it done, a small staff could be hired, and the doors thrown open at last. The truth was that many were curious what would be made of the place before they were willing to give freely for its support. Most, ladies as well as gentlemen, seemed to question the very existence of penitent prostitutes —thus, it was said, the place would go empty. On the same principle, the blades averred the opposite, declaring that the Magdalene Home would no doubt become London’s most crowded brothel.
    Neither prediction, of course, proved out. Indeed there were, and still are, penitent prostitutes, for the Magdalene Home filled early and, though none of its residents stay for more than a year, remains lull to this day. It is not, as some call it to this day, a club for fallen women. Lady Fielding insisted there were those who, given the chance, would leave the life on the streets. If they had a trade, or other means of earning money, every effort would be made to place them in positions where they might earn their way; this was ever accomplished in a lew months time. If they had no trade, as most had not, then