“But to leave Pa!” Emmy’s bewildered mind went back to what was the real difficulty. Jenny protested.
“He was in bed. I thought he’d be safe. He was tucked up. Supposing I hadn’t gone. Supposing I’d gone up to bed an hour ago. Still he’d have done the same.”
“You know he wouldn’t,” Emmy said, very quietly. Jenny felt a wave of hysteria pass through her. It died down. She held herself very firmly. It was true. She knew that she was only defending herself.
“I don’t know,” she said, in a false, aggrieved voice. “How do I know?”
“You do. He knew you were out. He very likely woke up and felt frightened.”
“Felt thirsty, more like it!” Jenny exclaimed.
“Well, you did wrong,” Emmy said. “However you like to put it to yourself, you did wrong.”
“I always manage to. Don’t I!” Jenny’s speech still was without defiance. She was humble. “It’s a funny thing; but it’s true....”
“You always want to go your own way,” Emmy reproved.
“Oh, I don’t think that’s wrong!” hastily said Jenny. “Why should you go anybody else’s way?”