The kinder words and tone cheered Erminie. She told the story of her acquaintance with Billy, of the picnic, of the attitude of the school bully, of the letter, the money, and of her growing conviction that the letter was a forgery, and the taking of the money a theft.
“And I came back to tell you, Mr. Wright, Professor Teal,—anybody who can help tell the truth for Billy. I’ve been a fool, I know it now; but Billy sha’n’t suffer another day for that.”
Mrs. Bennett took Erminie’s hands in her own. “You are a brave girl. It has not been easy for you to do this, nor has it been easy for me to look on helpless, and see Billy’s life so early burdened.”
“He could have put himself right any day if he had told on me.”
“How is it you dared come home, since your father was so—so angry—” Mrs. Bennett hesitated.
“I would have dared anything. I had made up my mind to set Billy right, no matter what happened to me. But my Uncle Henry fixed it. Anyway, after what Mr. Short did to dad, he was glad I didn’t marry the man, and dad’s as pleased as ma to have me home again.”
“You—wish Mr. Wright to know—what you’ve told me?”
“Yes, yes! I want Billy to be cleared of everything, to go back to Fifth Avenue High respected as he deserves to be.”
“Yet if—if you do this it will be hard for you. It’s past, and a pity for you to be exposed to censure when you were only the victim of circumstances.”
“Mrs. Bennett, Billy never hesitated to bear censure for me; now it’s my turn. Besides—” She stopped and for the first time showed embarrassment. “I want you to know this,—Billy taught me some of the best things I know; and I loved him—I love him still. But now I know that it is not the kind of love a girl—a girl should have for the man she marries. I—I’m not going back on Billy, Mrs. Bennett. It’s—it’s—”