"
"I know it isn't," said Peg. "An' the more's the pity. Why shouldn't
we discuss events of national importance? We THINK about them--very
well! why shouldn't we TALK about them. Why shouldn't girls be
taught to be honest with each other? I tell ye if there was more
honesty in this wurrld there wouldn't be half the sin in it, that
there wouldn't."
"Really--" began Ethel--
"Let US be honest with each other, Ethel," and Peg went right over
to her and looked at her compassionately.
"What do ye mean?" said Ethel with a sudden contraction of her
breath.
"You like Mr. Brent, don't ye?"
So! the moment had come. The little spy had been watching her. Well,
she would fight this common little Irish nobody to the bitter end.
All the anger in her nature surged uppermost as Ethel answered Peg--
but she kept her voice under complete control and once more put the
letter behind her back.
"Certainly I like Mr. Brent. He is a very old friend of the family!"
"He's got a wife?"
"He has!"
"An' a baby?"
"Yes--and a baby." Ethel was not going to betray herself. She would
just wait and see what course this creature was going to take with
her.
Peg went on:
"Of course I've never seen the wife or the baby because he never
seems to have them with him when he calls here.
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