"Who was the boy who threw the paper-wad?"
Involuntarily Missy's hold on his arm loosened. Then father had
seen. That was bad. Doubtless many others had seen--old people who
didn't understand the circumstances. It was very bad for Arthur's
reputation. Poor Arthur!
"Threw the paper-wad?" she asked back evasively.
"Yes, the red-headed boy. Wasn't it that Summers fellow?"
That Summers fellow!--Arthur's reputation was already gone!
"Wasn't it?" persisted father.
Evasion was no longer possible. Anyway, it might be best to try to
explain just how it was--to set poor Arthur right. So she replied:
"Yes, it was Arthur--but it wasn't his fault, exactly."
"Not HIS fault? Whose in thunder was it?"
Missy hesitated. She didn't like talking scandal of anyone directly-
-and, besides, there were likeable traits in Genevieve despite her
obvious failings.
"Well," she said, "it's just that Arthur is under a kind of wrong
influence--if you know what I mean."
"Yes, I know that influences count for a good deal," answered father
in the serious way she loved in him.
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