"Either
she will prove her claim, or she will give up and go back to Boston.
You know that."
"She'll fight hard, I guess" he admitted.
"Either way, Tunis," the girl pursued, "there is bound to be much
doubt cast upon my character--upon _me_. If the truth becomes known,
I am utterly lost. If it is hushed up, I must go on living a
lie--if I stay here."
"Don't talk that way!" he exclaimed gruffly. "Of course you'll stay
here. If not with the Balls, then with me."
"Stop!" she begged him. "Wait! I am going to state the matter
plainly as it is. We can no longer dodge it. This is the _truth_
which we have been trying to ignore. I have not been foolish only; I
have been wicked. And my greatest sin was in allowing you to link
yourself with me so closely."
"What do you mean?" he gasped.
"Just what I say. It was wrong for me to allow you to be friendly
with me before the Balls and other people. I should not have gone to
your house last Sunday. I should not have allowed you to introduce
me to your Aunt Lucretia."
"Ida May!"
"That is not my name," she whispered. "Let there be no further
mockery between you and me, Tunis. I have been wicked; _we_ have
been wicked. We must pay for what we have done.
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