An embarrassed pause.
"Well—what of it?"
"Why, I ... I thought perhaps you'd like to see me."
That wasn't the right thing to say. Ruth knew it the moment she had uttered it but she had never felt more uncomfortable in her life.
"Me—like to see you? Why should you have thought that?" There was a trace of ironic amusement in the coach's voice.
"Why—why because I was sort of responsible for Mr. Mooney's breaking the rules."
"Did he send you here?"
This question did much to bring Ruth back en her feet.
"No, sir! I came of my own free will. He doesn't know anything about it. He isn't that kind, Mr. Brown. He's taken all the blame—and it's really more my fault than his—lots more. I—I encouraged him to—to go out with me those nights ... I didn't think it would do any harm ... and you'll have to admit yourself that ten o'clock is pretty early," Ruth added, as she gained courage.
"Sorry, young lady, but the question of time is not debatable. Mr. Mooney broke the rules and that ends it..."