Part 11 (1/2)
Tom thought the scene very funny and laughed boisterously. Had Tom been scolded, Rita would have wept.
”Go it, mother,” said Tom. ”This is better than a jury trial.”
”Oh, Tom, be still, son!” said Mrs. Bays, and then turning to Rita: ”Now you've got to tell me what happened at Scott's social. Out with it!”
Rita and Dic were sitting near each other on the edge of the porch. Mr.
Bays and Tom occupied rocking-chairs, and Billy Little was standing on the ground, hat in hand.
”Tell me this instant,” cried Mrs. Bays, rising from her chair and going over to the girl, who shrank from her in fear. ”Tell me, or I'll--I'll--”
”I can't, mother,” the girl answered tremblingly. ”I can't tell you before all these--these folks. I'll tell you in the house.”
”You went into the kissing game. That's what you did,” cried Mrs. Bays, ”and your punishment shall be to confess it before Mr. Little.” Rita began to weep, and answered gently:--
”Yes, mother, I did, but I did not--did not--” A just and injured wrath gathered on the face of Justice.
”Didn't I command you not?”
”I'll tell you all about it, Mrs. Bays,” interrupted Dic. ”I coaxed her to go in.” (Rita's heart thanked him for the lie.) ”The others all insisted. One of the boys dragged her to the centre of the room and she just had to go into the game. She only remained a short time, and what Tom referred to is this: she would not allow any one to--to kiss her, and she quit the game when she--she refused me.”
”She quit the game when it quit, I 'low. Isn't that right?” asked the inquisitor.
”The game stopped when she went out--”
”I thought as much,” replied Mrs. Bays, straightening up for the purpose of delivering judgment. ”Now go to bed at once, you disobedient, indecent girl! I'm ashamed of you, and blush that Mr. Little should know your wickedness.”
”Oh, please let me stay,” sobbed Rita, but Mrs. Bays pointed to the door and Rita rose, gave one glance to Dic, and went weeping to her room. Mr.
Bays said mildly:--
”Margarita, you should not have been so hard on the girl.”
”Now, Tom Bays,” responded the strenuous spouse, ”I'll thank you not to meddle with my children. I know my duty, and I'll do it. Lord knows I wish I could s.h.i.+rk it as some people do, but I can't. I must do my duty when the Lord is good enough to point it out, or my conscience will smite me. There's many a person with my heart would sit by and let her child just grow up in the wilderness like underbrush; but I _must_ do my duty, Mr. Little, in the humble sphere in which Providence has placed me. Give every man his just dues, and do my duty. That's all I know, Mr.
Little. 'Justice to all and punishment for sinners;' that's my motto and my husband will tell you I live up to it.” She looked for confirmation to her spouse, who said regretfully:--
”Yes, I must say that's true.”
”There,” cried triumphant Justice. ”You see, I don't boast. I despise boasting.” She took up her knitting, put on her gla.s.ses, closed her lips, and thus announced that court was also closed.
Poor Rita, meantime, was sobbing, upstairs at her window.
After a long, awkward silence, Billy Little addressed Dic. ”I came up to spend the night with you, and if you are going home, I'll walk and lead my horse. I suppose you walked down?”
”Yes,” answered Dic; ”I'll go with you.”
”I'm sorry to carry off your company, Mrs. Bays,” said Billy, ”but I want to--”
”Oh, Dic's no company; he's always here. I don't know where he finds time to work. I'd think he'd go to see the girls sometimes.”
”Rita's a girl, isn't she?” asked Billy, glancing toward Dic.
”Rita's only a child, and a disobedient one at that,” replied Mrs. Bays, but Billy's words put a new thought into her head that was almost sure to cause trouble for Rita.