' So the bet was paid and my reputation
sustained. Don't you find it a little amusing?"
"I do, indeed," smiled Deborah. "Now, if I wanted to make the
test, I should take another course from these men. I should not
pick out something strange, or big, or unlikely. I should choose
some every-day object, some little matter--" She paused as if to
think.
"What little matter?" asked the other complacently.
"My husband once had a cap," mused Mrs. Scoville thoughtfully. "It
had an astonishingly broad peak in front. Have you a cap like
that?"
Miss Weeks' eyes opened. She stared in some consternation at Mrs.
Scoville, who hastened to say:
"You wonder that I can mention my husband. Perhaps you will not be
so surprised when I tell you that in my eyes he is a martyr, and
quite guiltless of the crime for which he was punished."
"You think that?" There was real surprise in the manner of the
questioner. Mrs. Scoville's brow cleared. She was pleased at this
proof that her affairs had not yet reached the point of general
gossip.
"Miss Weeks, I am a mother. I have a young and lovely daughter.
Can I look in her innocent eyes and believe her father to have so
forgotten his responsibilities as to overshadow her life with
crime? No, I will not believe it. Circumstances were in favour of
his conviction, but he never lifted the stick which struck down
Algernon Etheridge."
Miss Weeks, who had sat quite still during the utterance of these
remarks, fidgetted about at their close, with what appeared to the
speaker, a sudden and quite welcome relief.
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