She was being rude and was aware of it. But it was better to be rude than to have any human being discover how crimson her face had become and how her lips were trembling. Eugenia's question had taken her so by surprise. Several weeks before she had gone through much the same kind of conversation with Nona and Mildred. But the subject had never been mentioned again and she hoped was happily over. It was too stupid to have Nona go on dwelling upon the matter in this way and utterly pointless. She had told her that she had nothing in the world against her. Surely one had the right to one's likes and dislikes!
Quietly Eugenia continued after her guest. She made no effort to stop her, although she realized that they were walking farther than they had intended.
Finally Barbara must have appreciated the fact, because she stopped and turned around.
"Let's go back home, I am dead tired," she murmured.
Of course Eugenia complied, and they continued in single file on the return journey.
Walking alone, Barbara once or twice thought that she heard some one tramping about in the underbrush not far away. But although she glanced over in that direction she saw no one.
After five minutes more of silence Barbara caught up with Eugenia, who was in the lead on the way home.
"Can we stop a minute somewhere, Gene, before we get back to the house? I have something I want to tell you. I believe I'll feel relieved once I have made a plain statement of a fact to myself as well as to you. And it will be easier to say it out here in the moonlight than in the light of day."
This time it was the older girl who hesitated.