I haven't seen her." "What was it, then ?" But Rebecca would not tell her mother what the trouble had been; she could not bring herself to reveal how William had been urged to walk home with her and how coldly he had refused, and finally Deborah, in spite of baffled interest, turned upon her.

"Well, I hope you didn't do anything unbecoming," said she.
"Mother, you know better." "Well, I hope you didn't." "Mother, I won't stand being talked to so!" "I rather think I shall talk to you all I think I ought to for your own good," said Deborah, with fierce persistency.

"I ain't goin' to have any daughter of mine doin' anything bold and forward, if I know it." Rebecca was weeping quite openly now.

"Mother, you know you sent me down to the store yourself; there wasn't anybody else to go," she sobbed out.
"Your goin' to the store wa'n't anything.

I guess you can go to the store to trade off some eggs for sugar when I'm makin' cake without William Berry thinkin' you're runnin' after him, or Hannah Berry thinkin' so either.