“Well, leave that to me. I will arrange it somehow,” said her friend, as they walked back to the house.
On her return to her room, Carrie found her cousin anxiously waiting for her.
“I know Florence is up to some new mischief,” said she. “Don’t let her get you into any fresh difficulty. If she has contrived some new scheme, let her carry it out alone. Don’t you have any thing to do with it.”
Carrie hesitated.
“She is a very bad and dangerous girl,” continued Susie; “and I can see that she influences you more and more every day.”
Well meant as this was, Susan could not have said any thing more injudicious. Carrie flamed up in defence of her friend in an instant.
“She is not so bad as you make her out to be; and, as to influence, Florence says (and she ought to know) that I have a great deal over her.”
“All I can say,” replied her cousin, “is that I judge of a person’s influence by the effect it produces. The reason why I think Florence influences you more than you do her, is because I see that you are changed very much, and I don’t see that she is, one particle. You are in great danger, Carrie. Perhaps this is a turning-point with you. I tremble for you!”
“You are not my judge, thank goodness! If you were, I should tremble for myself.”
“Oh, Carrie!” exclaimed Susie;—but she had left the room.