“Yes—that was what I was afraid of! But I had decided not to write to you any more. They won’t have me back at the school—that’s why I couldn’t write. Not the fact, but the reason!”
“Well?”
“They not only won’t have me, but they gave me a parting piece of advice—”
“What?”
She did not answer directly. “I vowed I never would tell you, Jude—it is so vulgar and distressing!”
“Is it about us?”
“Yes.”
“But do tell me!”
“Well—somebody has sent them baseless reports about us, and they say you and I ought to marry as soon as possible, for the sake of my reputation! … There—now I have told you, and I wish I hadn’t!”
“Oh, poor Sue!”