"
"Oh, but, mother--why?" Sally exclaimed importunately. "What's he
done--he's done nothing."
"If you had a little more understanding about the laws of propriety,
you wouldn't ask a ridiculous question like that. The boy must go
at once. I've often thought since you came down here that the effect
of London upon you was to make you extremely lax in your judgment
of other people's morals. I've noticed it once or twice in different
things you've said. But you'll kindly leave this matter entirely to
me. That boy--I feel ashamed to think he's ever been under this
roof--is illegitimate!"
"Mother!" exclaimed the two girls.
"So I gather from this report," she said coldly.
Sally said nothing.
"And to think that I've allowed the wretched little creature to live
in my house and mix with my boys--a contaminating influence."
"It's horrible!" said the two girls.
"Oh, how unjust you all are!" exclaimed Sally, rising from the table
with burning cheeks. "How can a boy of that age be a contaminating
influence? How can he affect the innocence of all those other little
wretches whom you simper over just because their mothers have it in
their power to lift you in the society of this wretched little place?"
Mrs.
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