Dic paused for an answer, but receiving none, continued with emphasis:—
"I did not go into the house. I wasn't there five minutes, and I didn't say ten words to Sukey."
"You need not get mad about it," replied the girl. "I don't care how often you go to see Sukey or any other girl."
"I know you don't," he returned. "Of course you don't care. I never hoped—never even dreamed—that you would," and his breath came quickly with his bold, bold words.
"You might as well begin to dream," thought the girl, but she laughed, this time nervously, and said, "She told me you were there and took—took hold of—that is, she said you were so strong that when you took hold of her she felt that you could crush her." Then forgetting herself for a moment, she moved quite close to Dic and asked, "Did you take—take—" but she stopped.
"Tell me, Rita," returned Dic, with a sharpness that attracted her attention at once, "did she say I took hold of her, or are you trying to tease me? If you are teasing, I think it is in bad taste. If she said—"
"Well," interrupted the girl, slightly frightened, "she said that when you take hold of one—"
"Oh, she did not say herself?" asked Dic.
"I don't see that she could have meant any one else," replied Rita. "But, dear me, I don't care how often you take hold of her; you need not get angry at me because you took hold of her. There can be no harm in taking hold of any one, I'm sure, if you choose to do so; but why one should do it, I don't know, and I'm sure I don't care."
No ex post facto resolution could cure that lie, though of course it is a privileged one to a girl.