I don't care
WHERE you send her. Get her away from HERE, that's all."
"Not so long as she wishes to stay."
"You won't?" Strong saw that he must try a new attack. He came
close to Douglas and spoke with a marked insinuation. "If you
was a friend to the girl, you wouldn't want the whole
congregation a-pointin' fingers at her."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you're living here alone with her and it looks
bad--bad for the girl, and bad for YOU--and folks is talkin'."
"Are you trying to tell me that my people are evil-minded enough
to think that I--" Douglas stopped. He could not frame the
question. "I don't believe it," he concluded shortly.
"You'll be MADE to believe it if you don't get rid of that girl."
"Do YOU believe it?" He turned upon the little man at his side!
"Do you believe it, Elverson?"
Elverson had been so accustomed to Strong monopolising the
conversation, that he had become hopelessly lost as the
discussion went on, and the sudden appeal to him all but
paralysed his power of speech. He was still gurgling and
sputtering when Strong interrupted, impatiently.
"It makes no difference whether we believe it or not. We're
going to do our duty by the church, and that girl must leave
or----"
"Or I must.
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