But Hattie ignored her mother. "What a disgusting argument!" she went on. "What a cowardly excuse!"
Matters were taking a most undesirable turn. To change their course, Mrs. Balcome swung round upon Sue. "Why did you send Dora for that child?"
"What has the poor child to do with it?"
"Ah! You see, Wallace? It was all done purposely. So that Hattie would decide against you. What does Susan Milo care that you'll be mortified? That Hattie's life will be spoiled?" (Hattie smiled.) "That I'll have to explain and lie?"
"Ha! Ha!—Lie!" chuckled Balcome.
"Don't you see that she's not thinking of you, Hattie? That you'll have to pack up and go home?—Oh, it's dreadful! Dreadful!"
"Yes," answered Hattie. "It would be dreadful—to have to go home."
Mrs. Balcome did not seem to hear. She was waving a hand at the bundles. "And what, may I ask, are all these?"
"These?"
"You heard me."