"Did you meet Julia Markham anywhere?"
"I did; she was going home from Coe's by the old road, and I went out of the woods with her."
A long, hard-drawn breath from his mother, who saw that he took her question like a stab.
"It is no matter, mother. It had to be over some time."
"Barton! you don't mean, Barton—"
"I do, just that, mother," steadily. "She was kinder in her scorn than she meant. It was what I needed."
"Her scorn! her scorn, Barton!"
"Yes, her scorn, mother," decidedly and firmly.
"You must have talked and acted foolishly, Barton."
"I did talk and act foolishly, and I take the consequences."