Involuntarily Missy's hold on his arm loosened. Then father had seen. That was bad. Doubtless many others had seen—old people who didn't understand the circumstances. It was very bad for Arthur's reputation. Poor Arthur!
“Threw the paper-wad?” she asked back evasively.
“Yes, the red-headed boy. Wasn't it that Summers fellow?”
That Summers fellow!—Arthur's reputation was already gone!
“Wasn't it?” persisted father.
Evasion was no longer possible. Anyway, it might be best to try to explain just how it was—to set poor Arthur right. So she replied:
“Yes, it was Arthur—but it wasn't his fault, exactly.”
“Not HIS fault? Whose in thunder was it?”
Missy hesitated. She didn't like talking scandal of anyone directly—and, besides, there were likeable traits in Genevieve despite her obvious failings.
“Well,” she said, “it's just that Arthur is under a kind of wrong influence—if you know what I mean.”