"Well, if you hadn't gone so daffy over him I wouldn't have said anything about it."
"Daffy?" echoed Aunt Caroline. "Are you insinuating——"
"You've been throwing him up to me as a model of holy innocence ever since he came into the house," said Bill angrily. "Just now you've been preaching about how safe she was with Pete, and all that sort of poppycock. I tell you, I'm sick of it, Aunt Caroline."
Aunt Caroline suddenly remembered. She groaned.
"Oh, that poor girl! Heaven knows what will become of her now. Out there——" She gestured wildly. "With a Stearns!"
"Oh, he'll do as well by her as any sanctimonious guy."
"The child's reputation is gone! Gone!"
"That's nonsense," said Bill sharply. "If it comes to that, she can take care of herself."
"No girl can take care of herself, William Marshall. No proper girl would think of attempting it." Aunt Caroline bridled afresh at the very suggestion of feminine independence. "This is the end of the poor child. And you are responsible."