Steve seems to be
worried about--now you mustn't mind my speakin' plain, Caroline; the
time's come when I've got to--Steve seems to be worried about the young
man you're engaged to. He seems to cal'late that Mr. Dunn may want to
slip out of that engagement."
His niece looked at him. Then she turned to her brother. "You went to
HIM and... Oh, how COULD you!"
Stephen would not meet her gaze. "Well," he muttered rebelliously, "why
wouldn't I? You know yourself that Mal hasn't been near you since it
happened. If he wasn't after--if he was straight, he would have come,
wouldn't he? Mind, I don't say he isn't--perhaps he doesn't know. But,
at any rate, something must be done. We had to face possibilities, and
you wouldn't listen to me. I tried--"
"Stop!" she cut him short, imperiously. "Don't make me hate you. And
you," turning to her uncle, "did YOU listen and believe such things?
Did you encourage him to believe them? Oh, I know what you think of my
friends! I heard it from your own lips. And I know why you think it.
Because they know what you are; because they exposed you and--"
"There, there! Caroline, you needn't go on. I've heard your opinion
of my character afore. Never mind me for the minute. And, if you'll
remember, _I_ ain't said that I doubted your young man.
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