"You were worried, Martha. You were afraid."
"Well, of course I was afraid! All the time I thought, suppose anything should happen to me. I was thinking all the time about you, mother! Do you think I wanted to disgrace you? That's why I wanted to—I thought I couldn't live. Oh, when your wire came, mammie, I just had to see you again, once, before—— I didn't want to come. I was afraid you might find out! But I had to come and see you again once! How did you happen to come, mammie?"
"Did you suppose I was going to let you wander around New York alone?"
"Didn't you suspect anything?"
"Martha! No!"
"No, you couldn't believe it. Oh, I never wanted YOU to know. I'd rather have told all the rest of the world, mother. I'll never forgive myself for this as long as I live. You look—sick as a dog, mammie!"
"I'm all right. You needn't worry about me."
"You just say that. You don't even scold me! I've learned my lesson. You don't have to say anything! My God!" cried little Martha Kenworthy. "What I've been through! And those filthy women at school nosing around trying to find out what was the matter with me!"
"Oh, Martha!"
"They were. They went sneaking around! They know too much, those old hens, pretending they're so holy. I'm finished with that place!"