“I don’t go around that way any more.” Em lifted her chin an inch higher. “When I can’t have an—escort”—she uttered the word with some hesitation, fearing Zarelda might laugh at it—“I’ll stay home.”
Then she added abruptly in a reminiscent tone—“Maw acted up awful over my goin’ with him. Thought for a spell I wouldn’t get to go. But at last I flared all up an’ told her if I couldn’t go I’d just up an’ leave for good. That brought her around to the whipple-trees double quick, I can tell you. I guess she won’t say much agen my goin’ with him another time.”
“Goin’ with who?” said Zarelda. Em looked at her, smiling.
“For the land o’ love! D’ you mean to say you don’t know? I thought you’d of guessed. W’y, that’s what made maw so mad—she was just hoppin’, I tell you. That’s what made her act up so. Said all the neighbors ’u’d say I was tryin’ to get him away from you.”
In an instant the blood had flamed all over Zarelda’s face and neck.
“Get who away from me, Em Brackett?”
“As if there was so many to get!” said Em, laughing.
“Who are you a-talkin’ about?” said Zarelda, sternly. Her face was paling now. “What of I got to do with you an’ your comp’ny an’ your maw’s actin’-ups, I’d like to know. Who was your comp’ny?”
“Jim Sheppard; he”—
“Jim Sheppard!” cried Zarelda, furiously. She turned a white face to her companion, but her eyes were blazing. “What do I care for Jim Sheppard? Aigh? What do I care who he takes to dances up at Canemah? Aigh? You tell your maw, Em Brackett, that she needn’t to trouble to act up on my account. She can save her actin’-ups for somebody that needs ’em! You tell her that, will you?”