"I can't help what any one thinks, Jack. I know I'm right, and I must
go on doing it."
"Indeed you won't," said Jack angrily; "for unless you promise never to
meet him any more, I shall tell father at once that I found you here.
What do you think Cherry would say to you?"
"Cherry would say I was perfectly right, and would do _exactly_ the same
thing himself," said Nettie, triumphantly. "I am not doing any harm;
and I must go on. I can't tell you why I am doing it, because I
promised not, and I'll do it nearer home if you like it better. Bob and
I quarrelled about it many a time, _he_ knows."
"Oh, he knows, does he? What a fool he must have been to let you do
it."
"He won't tell of me," said Nettie, "and he never did let me when he was
at home. But I am not a silly, horrid girl, Jack, whatever you think;
and I'm not flirting with Dick, nor--nor--engaged to him; and when--
when--it's right, I don't mind people thinking so!"
But this speech ended in a flood of tears, as poor Nettie's latent
maidenliness began to assert itself.
"And pray," said Jack, "does Dick come after you because it's right?"
"No--no," sobbed Nettie; "because I make him."
"And how can you _make_ him, I should like to know?"
Nettie made no answer but renewed tears. At last she sobbed out, "Oh,
Jack, Jack, I wish you were Cherry!"
"I wish I were with all my heart," said Jack. "Would you tell me if I
were Cherry?"
"No; but I know _he_ would be kind, and not think me horrid."
"Well, Nettie, I'll try to be kind; but you frighten me by all this.
Now just listen. I believe I ought to tell father directly."
"Oh, Jack! dear Jack! Don't, don't--it would be dreadful! Don't you
believe me?"
"Yes," said Jack, "I believe you; but how do I know about a young scamp
like Dick? You tell me the whole truth, and then I can judge, or I
shall tell my father this moment. You're my sister, and I shall take
care of you. You've done a thing that may be told against you all your
life, and nothing can make it right, say what you will."
"But I _can't_ tell you, Jack; I've promised."
"Well, then, I shall have it out first with Dick."
"Oh, Jack, everything will be undone then!"
"And pray, if you don't care about him, why does it matter to you so
much about him?"
"Indeed--indeed, Jack, I'm not in love with him in the least. I never
was with anybody, and I never mean to be," said Nettie, fixing her great
blue eyes full on Jack, and speaking with convincing eagerness.
"And how about him?" said Jack crossly.
"No, it's nothing to do with it," said Nettie; but the tone of her voice
altered a little, and Jack had a sort of feeling that there was more in
the matter than she herself knew, for he never thought of disbelieving
her.
"Will you tell, and will you promise?" he said.
"No, I won't," said Nettie.
"Then you are a very naughty, disobedient girl, and you shall come home
with me this minute."
"I hate you, Jack. I'll never forgive you," said Nettie passionately,
as she followed him; and all the way home she sobbed and pouted, with an
intolerable sense of shame, while Jack, utterly puzzled, walked by her
side, a desire to horsewhip Dick Seyton contending in his mind with a
dread of making a row.
They came in by the back-door, and Nettie rushed upstairs at once; while
Jack, virtuous and resolute, went into the study.
Resolute as the girl was, she listened trembling, till her father's loud
call of "Nettie, Nettie, come here this moment!" brought her down to the
study, where were her father, her grandmother, and Jack.
"Eh, what's all this, Nettie?" said Mr Lester. "I can't have you
running about the country with young Seyton. What's the meaning of it?"
"Papa," said Nettie, "I haven't run about the country. Dick and I have
got a secret; it's a very good secret."
"Well, what is it, then?" said her father.
"I don't mean to tell. I never tell secrets," said Nettie, with
determination. "We have had it a long time."
"My dear," said Mr Lester, much more mildly than he would have spoken
to any of his boys, "I must put an end to it. You have been running
wild with your brothers till you forget how big a girl you are getting.
Never go out with Dick again by yourself--do you hear?"