“Not you, Missy. You've only said what was right and proper. It was cruel, and I blame myself for the whole thing.”
“No, no, no! I wanted some sport. I thought I could kill things, and never give a—no, never give a thought to 'em. Now I know I can't. That's all. I say, though, if I did use a swear-word, you won't give me away, will you? I don't know what I said, and that's all about it; but when I lose my scalp—ah well, I know I can trust you.”
“Of course you can,” said John William cheerily. And involuntarily he pressed to his side the hand that was still within his arm.
“I wouldn't say swear-words unless I did lose my scalp—you understand?” said Missy, coming back to it again.
“Of course you wouldn't; but you didn't.”
“I'm not so sure. I wouldn't have your parents hear of it if I did; they'd take it so terribly to heart.”
“They shall hear nothing—not that there's anything for them to hear.”
“Now my parents are different; they swear themselves.”
“Come, I can't credit that, you know!”
“But they do—like troopers!” persisted the girl. “It's the fashion just now in England. You may not know—how should you?”