"It is not nice to speak of such things," said the young lady, primly. "And it is not nice also to speak with strange gentlemen who come out of the forest when one is doing penance. But I am a half American, you know. Perhaps that is what makes me so bad."
"Will you catch it for talking to me?"
"Oh yes. It is not allowed. It is most improper."
"Then I suppose I'd better leave." Anthony settled himself more comfortably upon the bench. "And yet there is nothing really wrong about it, is there? Why, it's done every day in my country. Besides, who's going to know?"
"The padre. I tell him everything."
"You girls down here have a pretty tough time of it; you are guarded pretty closely, aren't you?"
She gave him a puzzled look.
"I mean, you don't have any liberty. You don't go out alone, or let fellows take you to lunch, or to the matinee, or anything like that?"
Evidently the mere mention of such things was shocking. "Oh, senor," she cried, incredulously, "such terrible actions cannot be permitted even in your country. It is awful to think of!"
"Nonsense! It's done every day."