“It will come here,” replied Gloria.
“Oh.” Then a long pause. It was not easy for Mrs. Towers to adjust this high-strung girl to the unpleasant situation.
“I hope—you’ll like it here, Gloria,” she felt obliged to remark, rather awkwardly.
Gloria’s lip curled. “You needn’t worry about me, Aunt Hattie,” she said crisply, “I can stand what I undertake. If I don’t like it here I’ll go to Jane.”
“Oh, goodness’ sake, Gloria!” exclaimed the nervous woman. “You wouldn’t do that!”
“Why not? Haven’t I agreed to keep your secret? You needn’t worry that I’ll break my word,” she retorted, not in the most polite tone of voice either.
“Oh, I know you wouldn’t do that,” her aunt returned quickly. “I know, Gloria, you do consider a word of honor—sacred.” The thin lips completely disappeared behind the woman’s strained expression.
“Yes, I guess I know what that means if I have been raised without a mother,” said Gloria. She could not repress her chafing sarcasm.
“But such a father as you have! Why, I can’t imagine Ed Doane—well, acting as Charley Towers is acting now,” said the aunt, holding on to the chair arms as if for moral support.
“Oh, I can,” exclaimed Gloria. “If it’s anything about—high mindedness, there isn’t any one on earth higher than dad.”