Penny did not answer for a moment. She bent to tie her flapping shoe strings and took her time at the task. When she straightened, she said quietly:
“All right, Dad. If you say so, I’ll apologize. But I don’t think I was wrong.”
“We’ll not discuss it now, Penny. Suppose you turn the car keys over to me and go to your room.”
Penny gave up the keys and without another word went down the hall. Tears stung her eyes, but she brushed them away. She knew she had been unpleasant to Mrs. Deline. Nevertheless, she felt that her father had not been entirely just in his attitude.
Entering the bedroom, she hesitated before turning on the light. Mrs. Deline had undressed and was in bed. She ignored the girl.
“I—I guess I made a bad mistake,” Penny began awkwardly. “I shouldn’t have been so rude.”
Mrs. Deline rolled over in bed. Her dark eyes flashed and she made no effort to hide her dislike.
“So you admit it?” she asked. “Well, we will forget the matter. Do not speak of it to me again.”
In silence Penny undressed and hung up her coat and dress. As she prepared to snap out the light, she noticed that Mrs. Deline still wore the jade elephant charm about her neck.
“Aren’t you afraid you’ll break the chain?” she asked before she thought. “You forgot to take it off.”