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Tessie tried some of her old…time pertness of speech。 〃Oh； good
enough； considering the company。〃
He laughed admiringly at that and said she was a sketch。
When the early evening came on they made a clumsy landing and had
supper。 This time Nap fed her the tidbits； though she protested。
〃White meat for you；〃 he said； 〃with your skin like milk。〃
〃You must of read that in a book；〃 scoffed Tessie。 She glanced
around her at the deepening shadows。 〃We haven't got much time。
It gets dark so early。〃
〃No hurry；〃 Nap assured her。 He went on eating in a leisurely；
finicking sort of way； though he consumed very little food； actually。
〃You're not eating much；〃 Tessie said once； halfheartedly。 She
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decided that she wasn't having such a very grand time； after all； and that
she hated his teeth； which were very bad。 Now； Chuck's strong； white；
double row
〃Well；〃 she said； 〃let's be going。〃
〃No hurry；〃 again。
Tessie looked up at that with the instinctive fear of her kind。 〃What
d'you mean； no hurry！ 'Spect to stay here till dark？〃 She laughed at her
own joke。
〃Yes。〃
She got up then； the blood in her face。 〃Well； _I_ don't。〃
He rose； too。 〃Why not？〃
〃Because I don't； that's why。〃 She stooped and began picking up the
remnants of the lunch； placing spoons and glass bottles swiftly and
thriftily into the lunch box。 Nap stepped around behind her。
〃Let me help；〃 he said。 And then his arm was about her and his face
was close to hers； and Tessie did not like it。 He kissed her after a little
wordless struggle。 And then she knew。 She had been kissed before。
But not like this。 Not like this！ She struck at him furiously。 Across
her mind flashed the memory of a girl who had worked in the finishing
room。 A nice girl； too。 But that hadn't helped her。 Nap Ballou was
laughing a little as he clasped her。
At that she heard herself saying： 〃I'll get Chuck Mory after youyou
drunken bum； you！ He'll lick you black and blue。 He'll〃
The face； with the ugly； broken brown teeth； was coming close again。
With all the young strength that was in her she freed one hand and clawed
at that face from eyes to chin。 A howl of pain rewarded her。 His hold
loosened。 Like a flash she was off。 She ran。 It seemed to her that her
feet did not touch the earth。 Over brush； through bushes； crashing
against trees； on and on。 She heard him following her； but the broken…
down engine that was his heart refused to do the work。 She ran on；
though her fear was as great as before。 Fear of what might have
happenedto her； Tessie Golden； that nobody could even talk fresh to。
She gave a sob of fury and fatigue。 She was stumbling now。 It was
growing dark。 She ran on again； in fear of the overtaking darkness。 It
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was easier now。 Not so many trees and bushes。 She came to a fence；
climbed over it； lurched as she landed； leaned against it weakly for support；
one hand on her aching heart。 Before her was the Hatton summer cottage；
dimly outlined in the twilight among the trees。
A warm； flickering light danced in the window。 Tessie stood a
moment； breathing painfully； sobbingly。 Then； with an instinctive
gesture； she patted her hair； tidied her blouse； and walked uncertainly
toward the house； up the steps to the door。 She stood there a moment；
swaying slightly。 Somebody'd be there。
The light。 The woman who cooked for them or the man who took
care of the place。 Somebody'd
She knocked at the door feebly。 She'd tell 'em she had lost her way
and got scared when it began to get dark。 She knocked again； louder now。
Footsteps。 She braced herself and even arranged a crooked smile。 The
door opened wide。 Old Man Hatton！
She looked up at him； terror and relief in her face。 He peered over
his glasses at her。 〃Who is it？〃 Tessie had not known； somehow； that
his face was so kindly。
Tessie's carefully planned story crumbled into nothingness。 〃It's me！〃
she whimpered。 〃It's me！〃
He reached out and put a hand on her arm and drew her inside。
〃Angie！ Angie！ Here's a poor little kid〃
Tessie clutched frantically at the last crumbs of her pride。 She tried
to straighten； to smile with her old bravado。 What was that story she had
planned to tell？
〃Who is it； Dad？ Who？〃 Angie Hatton came into the hallway。
She stared at Tessie。 Then： 〃Why； my dear！〃 she said。 〃My dear！
Come in here。〃
Angie Hatton！ Tessie began to cry weakly； her face buried in Angie
Hatton's expensive shoulder。 Tessie remembered later that she had felt
no surprise at the act。
〃There； there！〃 Angie Hatton was saying。 〃Just poke up the fire； Dad。
And get something from the dining room。 Oh； I don't know。 To drink；
you know。 Something〃
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Then Old Man Hatton stood over her； holding a small glass to her lips。
Tessie drank it obediently； made a wry little face； coughed； wiped her eyes；
and sat up。 She looked from one to the other； like a trapped little animal。
She put a hand to her tousled head。
〃That's all right；〃 Angie Hatton assured her。 〃You can fix it after a
while。〃
There they were； the three of them： Old Man Hatton with his back to
the fire； looking benignly down upon her； Angie seated； with some
knitting in her hands； as if entertaining bedraggled； tear…stained young
ladies at dusk were an everyday occurrence； Tessie； twisting her
handkerchief in a torment of embarrassment。 But they asked no
questions； these two。 They evinced no curiosity about this disheveled
creature who had flung herself in upon their decent solitude。
Tessie stared at the fire。 She looked up at Old Man Hatton's face and
opened her lips。 She looked down and shut them again。 Then she
flashed a quick look at Angie； to see if she could detect there some
suspicion； some disdain。 None。 Angie Hatton lookedwell； Tessie put
it to herself； thus： 〃She looks like she'd cried till she couldn't cry no
moreonly inside。〃
And then； surprisingly； Tessie began to talk。 〃I wouldn't never have
gone with this fella； only Chuck； he was gone。 All the boys're gone。 It's
fierce。 You get scared； sitting home； waiting； and they're in France and
everywhere； learning French and everything； and meeting grand people
and having a fuss made over 'em。 So I got mad and said I didn't care； I
wasn't going to squat home all my life； waiting〃
Angie Hatton had stopped knitting now。 Old Man Hatton was
looking down at her very kindly。 And so Tessie went on。 The pent…up
emotions and thoughts of these past months were finding an outlet at last。
These things which she had never been able to discuss with her mother she
now was laying bare to Angie Hatton and Old Man Hatton！ They asked
no questions。 They seemed to understand。 Once Old Man Hatton
interrupted with： 〃So that's the kind of fellow they've got as escapement…
room foreman； eh？〃
Tessie； whose mind was working very clearly now； put out a quick
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hand。 〃Say； it wasn't his fault。 He's a bum； all right； but I knew it；
didn't I？ It was me。 I didn't c