Jed did not
wait. He was by this time at least as nervous as she was and
considerably more distressed and embarrassed. He rose from the box
and extended a protesting hand.
"Now, now, ma'am," he begged. "Now, Mrs. Armstrong, please--please
don't say any more. It ain't necessary, honest it ain't. She--
she--that child she didn't tell me much of anything anyhow, and she
didn't mean to tell that. And if you knew how ashamed and--and
mean I've felt ever since to think I let myself hear that much! I
hope--I do hope you don't think I tried to get her to tell me
anything. I do hope you don't think that."
His agitation was so acute and so obvious that she looked at him in
wonder for a moment. Then she hastened to reassure him.
"Don't distress yourself, Mr. Winslow," she said, smiling sadly.
"I haven't known you very long but I have already learned enough
about you to know that you are an honorable man. If I did not know
that I shouldn't be here now. It is true that I did not mean for
you or any one here in Orham to learn of my--of our trouble, and if
Babbie had not told you so much I probably should never have spoken
to you about it. The poor child's conscience troubled her so last
evening that she came crying to me and confessed, and it is because
I gathered from her that she had told enough to make you at least
guess the truth that I am here now.
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