That's why I wanted
mother to let me go walking with him. Don't you think that--maybe--
if she understood--she might let me?"
How in the world had that last question ever popped out? How had she
worked up to it? A little appalled, a little abashed, but withal
atingle at her own daring, she breathlessly, even hopefully, awaited
his answer.
But father ruthlessly squashed her hopes with two fell sentences and
one terrifying oath.
"I should say not! You say he's dissipated and then in the same
breath ask me--for God's sake!"
"Well, maybe, he isn't so dissipated, father," she began
quaveringly, regretting the indiscretion into which eloquence had
enticed her.
"I don't care a whoop whether he is or not," said father
heartlessly. "What I want is for you to get it into your head, once
for all, that you're to have NOTHING to do with this fellow or any
other boy!"
Father's voice, usually so kind, had the doomsday quality that even
mother used only on very rare occasions. It reverberated in the
depths of Missy's being. They walked the last block in unbroken
silence.
Pages:
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249