Betty, rather white this morning, laughed a little. “How well you understand, Mother,” she said. “It doesn’t seem quite so tragic this morning, that is, for me. I’ve been thinking. Wouldn’t it be better for me not to tell about this and just to say what a good dinner it was and how much trouble they went to to give Jack a big party, if the girls ask about it?”
“Decidedly so, Betty, for the sake of everybody concerned. You were caught in a group about whose doings we’ve heard. We’ll find out more again before you accept an invitation. But there was no intention on the part of any one to annoy or injure you, though there was not the proper chaperonage; and of course the whole setting was as different as possible from what we approve. But you don’t mean that you would continue a special friendship with Jack, do you?”
“Oh, no!” Betty looked rather distressed at the thought of Jack. “If I hadn’t been so stubborn, I might have known. There were little things—and then his ideas—and a few things said. But Jack is really a dear boy, Mother.”
“Yes. So your father said. We talked a good part of the night.”
“I suppose so. I’m sorry, Mother. Well, I’ll handle it the best I can, and I decided that I’d not act offended about it to Jack, but just tell him frankly all about how I felt. I wish I could say something to make him see how it is, but I suppose there isn’t much use trying.”
Mrs. Lee smiled. “It is to Jack’s credit that he has been attracted to the sort of a girl you are, Betty. There is certainly no advantage in being unkind; but you must be firm about such associations. No, I suppose with his parents’ ideas, his environment and possible heritage, it would be a difficult thing to pull Jack away from that sort of thing; and I should not like to have my daughter run the risk that much association there would bring.
“Your father and I felt very indignant at first. We do yet in a way. But you escaped harm, providentially. No good will be achieved by your adding to the gossip that there will probably be about it. The effect of ‘public opinion’ is sometimes a deterrent, but in the case of young people, your father and I always think private correction is the best. Just keep as still as you can Betty, and see what happens. Surely Jack will make some inquiry in regard to how you got home.”
Betty shook her head doubtfully. “Perhaps he got to be like the girl the colored maid said had ‘passed out.’ I was so scared for a minute, thinking that she meant really dead! If he did, he wouldn’t know a thing about it. It’s very queer. I suppose his father and mother really didn’t expect it to go so far. When they came back in the car, it was to be used to take us home, I suppose.”
“Not much use in supposing. Think out what you want to say at school about it Betty, and we shall see what happens. I have in mind what I want to say to Jack’s mother some time. Run along and finish dressing, and awaken Doris, please. You will feel better when you have breakfast. Think about your lessons now, if you can.”
“I can all right,” replied Betty with a toss of her head and the ghost of a smile at her mother, as she followed directions.