He assured Julie that the Americans understood the unfortunate affair. The Filipino conception of it apparently did not trouble his mind. The Padre to his deep regret was outside his jurisdiction.
The women of the colony defended Julie, as women if left to themselves generally will defend their kind. One day when Julie was passing Mrs. Smith’s house, the little lady called out to her to come in. After the girl had sunk dispiritedly into a cane chair, Mrs. Smith broke out: “Julie, you’re taking this wretched business too much to heart! Do you for one instant think that we who know you would believe a thing against you? Marlborough was at the Mess that day when all that trouble rose and heard what passed—something about your having been engaged to Adams, and your letting all the men kiss you. How many”—turning into a tone of playful curiosity—“did, really? How fearfully interesting, you little philanderer! I—there were a number in my history too. Just heaps of ’em, in fact. Why shouldn’t there be, when we’re making the Sentimental Journey of youth? These stupid men! They think they are the only ones who can take the trip!
“What made Calmiden mad, of course, was your being engaged to Adams, his class-mate, all the time you let him make love to you. That was playing the game rather roughly, I admit!”
Julie explained wearily the embroilment about Adams. “He came down here because he was lonely—and to see me, because, well, maybe I was a sort of romantic ideal to him—who will ever know? We had made a contract to help each other through—quite different, you understand, from the other kind of contract.”
“Does Calmiden know about this?”
Julie listlessly shook her head.
“But perhaps that’s just what’s the trouble! What would you have done if you thought he were untrue? He has, moreover, a peculiar character, as you know.”
“Untrue? He is completely so!”
“What on earth has Calmiden done?”
“What has he done?” Julie cried trembling. “Didn’t your husband tell you the horrible things Purcell said against me—my character, my integrity, shamelessly pulled apart before the whole mess?”