She resents this. “I’m not so dumb as you think.”
You feel guilty, and at the same time stubborn. You know this feeling: you have had it before and it always gets you into trouble.
“All right. Suppose I talked a little about your friend Lilian? How long have you known her?”
“All my life. Why——” in quick alarm—“do you mean to say that you know anything about Lilian that I don’t?”
“I don’t want to talk about Lilian. But you’re very trusting for your age. Everyone lies to everybody; didn’t you know that? Kiss me and forget about it.”
“I can’t. You have to tell me. Tell me!”
For a moment you feel sorry. You shouldn’t have done it; you know it. Your arm tightens about her. You have to stop her somehow; she is going to cry.
“Please don’t worry so. Everybody does. Please don’t cry, baby. You are a baby. It really doesn’t matter, I tell you. Not if everybody does.”
“No!”
“All right! I didn’t mean it!”