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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 care。 Seemed to me it didn't make no
difference who I went with； but it does。〃 She looked down at her hands
clasped so tightly in her lap。
〃Yes； it makes a whole lot of difference；〃 Angie agreed； and looked up
at her father。
At that Tessie blurted her last desperate problem： 〃He's learning all
kind of new things。 Me； I ain't learning anything。 When Chuck comes
home he'll just think I'm dumb； that's all。 He〃
〃What kind of thing would you like to learn； Tessie； so that when
Chuck comes home〃
Tessie looked up then； her wide mouth quivering with eagerness。 〃I'd
like to learn to swimand row a boatand play tennislike the rich girls
like the girls that's making such a fuss over the soldiers。〃
Angie Hatton was not laughing。 So； after a moment's hesitation；
Tessie brought out the worst of it。 〃And French。 I'd like to learn to talk
French。〃