“Oh, I never liked him and I don’t want to go away with him.”
“Your mother said he was a good man—that he loved you.”
“Uncle Ed was good, and very kind to me. I—I ought to be ashamed,” replied Genie. “But he drank, and when he drank he kissed me—he put his hands on me. I hated that.”
“Did you ever tell your mother?” inquired Adam.
“Yes. I told her. I asked her why he did that. And she said not to mind—only to keep away from him when he drank.”
“Genie, your uncle did wrong, and your mother did wrong not to tell you so,” declared Adam, earnestly.
“Wrong? What do you mean—wrong? I only thought I didn’t like him.”
“Well, I’ll tell you some day.... But now, to go back to what you said about leaving—you know I’m going with you when your uncle comes.”
“Wanny, do you want that time to come soon?” she asked, wistfully.
“Yes, of course, for your sake. You’re getting to be a big girl. You must go to school. You must get out to civilization.”