afternoon."

At this Mrs. Johnson uttered an involuntary gasp, but she recovered
herself. "Then I'm sure our conversation was a very pleasant one, if we
were talking of your mother, because--"

Again he interrupted. "My aunt has told me what the conversation
virtually was, and I don't mean to waste any time, Mrs. Johnson.
You were talking about a--" George's shoulders suddenly heaved
uncontrollably; but he went fiercely on: "You were discussing a scandal
that involved my mother's name."

"Mr. Minafer!"

"Isn't that the truth?"

"I don't feel called upon to answer, Mr. Minafer," she said with visible
agitation. "I do not consider that you have any right--"

"My aunt told me you repeated this scandal to her."

"I don't think your aunt can have said that," Mrs. Johnson returned
sharply. "I did not repeat a scandal of any kind to your aunt and
I think you are mistaken in saying she told you I did. We may, have
discussed some matters that have been a topic of comment about town--"

"Yes!" George cried. "I think you may have! That's what I'm here about,
and what I intend to--"

"Don't tell me what you intend, please," Mrs. Johnson interrupted
crisply. "And I should prefer that you would not make your voice quite
so loud in this house, which I happen to own. Your aunt may have told
you--though I think it would have been very unwise in her if she did,
and not very considerate of me--she may have told you that we discussed
some such topic as I have mentioned, and possibly that would have been
true. If I talked it over with her, you may be sure I spoke in the most
charitable spirit, and without sharing in other people's disposition to
put an evil interpretation on what may, be nothing more than unfortunate
appearances and--"

"My God!" said George. "I can't stand this!"

"You have the option of dropping the subject," Mrs. Johnson suggested
tartly, and she added: "Or of leaving the house."

"I'll do that soon enough, but first I mean to know--"

"I am perfectly willing to tell you anything you wish if you will
remember to ask it quietly. I'll also take the liberty of reminding you
that I had a perfect right to discuss the subject with your aunt. Other
people may be less considerate in not confining their discussion of it,
as I have, to charitable views expressed only to a member of the family.
Other people--"

"Other people!" the unhappy George repeated viciously. "That's what I
want to know about--these other pe