"I haven't mended the sheets she gave me weeks ago."
"I'll help you with them."
"Good, kind, Christian girl! There's nothing like having a reputation to keep up. That's why I told you about my secret road."
"You're—vulgar."
"No, I'm human, and very young, and rather beautiful. And quite intelligent." There came on her face the look which made her seem old and tired with her own knowledge. "Was it Zebedee last night?"
Heat ran over Helen's body like a living thing.
"You're hateful," she stammered. "As though Zebedee and I—as though Zebedee and I would meet by stealth!"
"Honestly, I can't see why you shouldn't. Why shouldn't you?"
Helen smoothed her forehead with both hands. "It was the way you said it," she murmured painfully and then straightened herself. "Of course nothing Zebedee would do could be anything but good. I beg his pardon." And in a failing voice, she explained again, "It was the way you said it."
"I suppose I'm not really a nice person," Miriam replied.