"You thought I wasn't straight," Amy took her up bitterly as Jean hesitated. "I knew mighty well what was in your mind every time I got a new shirt-waist or a hat." "You weren't frank with me." "I couldn't be." "I don't see why." "Because," she wavered, melted now, "because you are you, so strait-laced and--and strong. I've always been afraid to tell you just how things stood." "Afraid, Amy? Afraid of me!" Jean felt keenly self-reproachful. "I am horribly sorry. Heaven knows I haven't meant to be unkind. I've found my own way too hard to want to make things worse for anybody else, you above all. You believe me, don't you?" "Yes." "Then be your old self, the Amy who made friends with me in Cottage No. 6. Who is he? Any one I know?" "You've met him." "I have! Where?" Amy's color rose. "Remember the night you struck New York?" "Perfectly." "And the traveling man who jollied you?" "Yes." "Well," she faltered, "he's the one. His name is Chapman." Jean was too staggered for a prompt response, but Amy was still toiling among her explanations. "You mustn't think anything of his nonsense that night," she went on. "It was only Fred's way. He's a born flirt. You couldn't help liking him, Jean, if you knew him." Jean met her wistful appeal for sympathy, woman-wise. Words were impossible at first. By and by, when she could trust herself to speak, she wished her happiness. "Does he--know?" she added. Amy's fair skin went a shade rosier. "My record, you mean? Nobody knows it better. Don't you--don't you catch on, Jean? He was the--the man!" "He! You've taken up with him again! The man who saw your stepfather send you to the refuge and never lifted a finger--" "Don't!" "Who let his child--" "Stop, I tell you!" She barred Jean's lips passionately. "You see! Is it any wonder I couldn't bear to tell you? I wish to God I'd never said a word." Jean stared blankly at this lamb turned lioness. "Forgive me," she begged. "Perhaps I don't understand." "Understand! You!" She laughed hysterically, "Yet you're going to be married! If you loved Paul Bartlett, you'd understand." "You must not say that."