“I have worked for the Vose-Mern agency.”
She could not deny the evidence of that letter which he had shoved deep down into his pocket. He had reminded her of it by whacking his hand against his thigh.
“So that’s what you are!” Again he was losing control of himself.
Men in the crowd snickered. They were perceiving much humor in the situation.
“I can explain later.” She, too, was breaking down under the strain. She whimpered, pleading with him. “After you have brought down the drive I can explain and——”
“Now! It must be now! I can’t bring down any drive till you do explain.”
She did not understand.
But he knew all too bitterly under what a sword of Damocles he was standing. Ridicule was ready to slay him! The Big Laugh was already gurgling deep in the throats of all the folks. The news of his engagement had gone ahead of him to the north country; the Big Laugh would roar along in the wake of that news.
“The truth! It must come out now!” he shouted. “All the truth—the whole truth about yourself!”
“I can’t tell you!” wailed Lida Kennard, turning her back fearsomely on the big house on the ledges.