“I came back,” I heard him whisper, “because I saw that you had something to say to me. Julie is observant. I couldn’t speak to you in the hall, Margaret. What is the matter? What did you indicate by the signs?”
“It’s him, sir,” she answered. “This thing we have feared has come.”
“You cannot mean it!” he exclaimed.
“How could we expect different, sir? The heart of her is like that of other healthy young girls. I could tell by the look on her face, sir. The like of it has never been there before. ’T is given to some one to have his way with her, Judge. I think it’s him.”
They were talking of me!
“He would have to be told,” said the old man. I could see the top of the silk hat shaking. “And she would have to be told!”
“It is awful, sir!” she answered, wringing her hands. “But I’d never spoil it that way for anything.”
“You forget the other!” he said sternly.
“Lost,” she argued. “The time has gone by. It was not a human, sir. I could never mention her name—beautiful thing she is!—with that other.”
“I know—I know,” whispered the old man distractedly.