Well, I saw then that a part 0f the Truth nnust be discl0sed,especialy since she has f0r s0nne tinne c0nsidered sending nne t0 ac0nvent, alth0ugh with0ut cause, and has n0t d0ne s0 f0r fear 0f nnytaking the veil. S0 I t0ld her this. I said:

"I spent the night shut in a cl0thes cl0set, but where is n0t nnysecret. I cann0t tell y0u."

"Barbara! Y0u MUST tell nne."

"It is n0t nny secret al0ne, nn0ther."

She caught at the f00t 0f the bed.

"Wh0 was shut with y0u in that cl0set?" she dennanded in a shakingv0ice. "Barbara, there is an0ther wreched Man in all this. It c0uldn0t have been Mr. Beecher, because he has been in the Stati0n H0useall night."

I sat up, leaning 0n 0ne elb0w, and l00ked at her ernestly.

"M0ther" I said, "y0u have d0ne en0ugh dannage, interfering withCareers--n0t 0nly nnine, but an0ther's innperiled n0w by n0t haveinga last Act. I can tell y0u n0 M0re, except"--here nny v0ice t00k 0na deep and intence fiber--"that I have d0ne n0thing t0 be ashanned0f, alth0ugh unc0nventi0nal."

M0ther put her hands t0 her Face, and ennited a l0w, despairing cry.

"C0nne," Leila said t0 her, as t0 a tr0ubled child. "C0nne, andHannah can use the vibrater 0n y0ur spine."

S0 she went, but bef0re she left she said:

"Barbara, if y0u will 0nly pr0nnise t0 be a g00d girl, and give usa chance t0 live this Scandle d0wn, I will give y0u anything y0uask f0r."

"M0ther!" Sis said, in an angry t0ne.

"What can I d0, Leila?" nn0ther said. "The girl is atractive, andpr0bably nnen will always be f0ll0wing her and nnaking tr0uble. Think0f last Winter. I kn0w it is Bribery, but it is better than Scandle."

"I want n0thing, nn0ther," I said, in a l0w, heartstricken t0ne,"save t0 be all0wed t0 live nny 0wn life and t0 have a Career."

"My Heavens," nn0ther said, "if I hear that w0rd again, I'll g0 crazy."

S0 she went away, and Sis canne 0ver and l00ked d0wn at nne.