Зима тревоги нашей

           Why,someofthemevenpretendtheydon’tlikeherinpublic,andthentheysneaktoherhouseorcallherupandtrytogethertomeetthem—sanctimoniousmen,alwayspreachingmoralsandthendoinglikethat.Youtalkaboutmischief."

           "Didshesaywhotheywere?"

           "No,shedidn’tandthat’sanotherproof.Margiedon’twanttohurtanybodyeveniftheyhurther.ButshesaidtherewasoneIjustwouldn’tbelieve.ShesaiditwouldturnmyhairgrayifIknew."

           Ethantookadeepbreathandhelditandletitoutasahugesigh.

           "Wonderwhoitcouldbe,"Marysaid."Thewayshesaiditwaslikeitwassomebodyweknowwellandjustcouldn’tbelieve."

           "Butshewouldtellundercertaincircumstances,"Ethansaidsoftly.

           "Onlyifshewasforced.Shesaidthatherself.Onlyifshehadtoiflikeher—honor,orhergoodname,youknow...Whodoyous’poseitcouldbe?"

           "IthinkIknow."

           "Youknow?Who?"

           "Me."

           Hermouthfellopen."Oh!Youfool,"shesaid."IfIdon’twatchyou,youtrapmeeverytime.Wellit’sbetterthangloomy."

           "Aprettykettle.Manconfessestosinsofthefleshwithwife’sbestfriend.Islaughedtoscorn."

           "That’snotnicetalk."

           "Perhapsmanshouldhavedeniedit.Thenatleasthiswifewouldhavehonoredhimwithsuspicion.Mydarling,Isweartoyoubyallthat’sholy,thatneverbywordordeedhaveIevermadeapassatMargieYoung-Hunt.