"Reckon that wouldn't keep them from knowing. They'd see as I was getting married in a hurry--not an invitation out and my troossoo not half ready--and then they'd count the months till the baby came. No, I tell you, it'll be much better if I go away. Everyone ull think as I'm bust, through having lost my case, and I'll go right away--Chichester, I'd thought of going to, where Martha Relf is--and when the baby comes, no one till be a bit the wiser." "Of course they will. They'll know all about it--everything gets known here, and you've never in your life been able to keep a secret. If you marry, people won't talk in the same way--it'll be only guessing, anyhow. You needn't be down here when the baby's born--and at least Tip needn't know. Joanna, if you love me, if you ever loved me, you'll send a wire to this man and tell him that you've changed your mind and must see him--you can easily make up the quarrel, whatever it was." "Maybe he wouldn't marry me now, even if I did wire." "Nonsense--he'd have to." "Well, he won't be asked." Joanna was stiffening with grief. She had not expected to have this battle with Ellen; she had been prepared for abuse and upbraiding, but not for argument--it had not struck her that her sister would demand the rehabilitation she herself refused. "You're perfectly shameless," sobbed Ellen. "My God! It ud take a woman like you to brazen through a thing like this. Swanking, swaggering, you've always been ... well, I bet you'll find this too much even for your swagger--you don't know what you're letting yourself in for.... I can tell you a little, for I've known, I've felt, what people can be.... I've had to face them--when you wouldn't let Arthur give me my divorce." "Well, I'll just about have to face 'em, that's all. I done wrong, and I don't ask not to be punished." "You're an absolute fool. And if you won't do anything for your own sake, you might at least do something for mine. I tell you, I'm not like you--I do think of other people--and for Tip's sake I can't have everyone talking about you, and may be my own story raked up again. I won't have him punished for his goodness. If you won't marry and be respectable, I tell you, you needn't think I'll ever let you see me again." "But, Ellen, supposing even there is talk--you and Tip won't be here to hear it. You'll be married by then and away in Wiltshire. Tip need never know."