“Went in? Went in where?”
The girl hung her head. It was evident that the answer to this question was one she dreaded to make. But she made it, nevertheless.
“Before we went into—into the parlor,” she said, faintly.
Captain Shad was the only one of her hearers who grasped the full significance of this confession. No, there was one other, and he turned red and then white.
“The parlor?” repeated the Captain, slowly. “The best parlor?”
“Ye-yes, sir.”
“Do you mean you went into the best parlor over to our house and—AND TOOK THAT CAT IN WITH YOU?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, I swan to man! Did you forget what I told you would happen if you went into that parlor again? And especially if you lugged that cat in? Did you forget that?”
“N-no, sir. I didn't forget it. You—you said I couldn't go to the picnic.”