“She told me that you and her wasn't ever goin' ter see each other agin,” roared Strong. “If I'd a-knowed she was goin' to keep on with this kind o' thing, you wouldn't er got off so easy.”
“So! That's it!” cried Douglas. It was all clear to him now. He recalled everything, her hysterical behaviour, her laughter, her tears. “It was you who drove that child back to this.” He glanced at Polly. The narrow shoulders were bent forward. The nervous little fingers were clasping and unclasping each other. Never before had she seemed so small and helpless.
“Oh, please, Mr. John, please! Don't make him any worse!”
“Why didn't you tell me?” he demanded.
“It would have done no good,” she sobbed. “Oh, why—why won't you leave me alone?”
“It would have done all the good in the world. What right had he to send you back to this?”
“I had every right,” said Strong, stubbornly.
“What?” cried Douglas.
“It was my duty.”
“Your duty? Your narrow-minded bigotry!”