one who knows the laws and is not afraid
to invoke their protection, black-mailers quail and vanish.

Such an affair cannot, however, be made straight without a good deal of
suffering to all concerned. Georgie was forgiven. She was saved from the
consequences of her own folly and imprudence; but she could not forgive
herself, nor could she forget the deep pain and mortification she had
given to the parents she loved, or ignore the fact that she had
forfeited something of their good opinion, and that it would take her a
long time to regain it. Gertrude, too, had her share to endure. She had
a strong sense of honor and a high opinion of her own powers; yet in
this the first real test of her life, she had failed miserably, and not
only given Georgie no assistance, but had helped to confirm her in her
error. Berenice Joy received her portion of punishment in the shape of
an interview, which she found most disagreeable, with Mr. Gray. At her
urgent entreaty, he gave up his intention of telling the story to her
mother, but she felt that she was disgraced in his eyes and in those of
Mrs. Gray; and though she cried, and looked very pretty, and was
properly grateful and distressed, and assured Mr. Gray that she should
never forget how good he had been to her, and that he couldn't imagine
how much she and Georgie had suffered just for a moment of
thoughtlessness, she was aware all the time that her tears and her
gratitude made no impression, and that he did not believe in her. She
was sure that all intimacy between herself and Georgie would be
discouraged thenceforward; and this was a real punishment, for Berry
counted a good deal on the Grays, and had built some social hopes on her
position as their friend. Her forebodings proved true. Her little gush
of thankfulness and penitence did not touch Mr. Gray's heart in the
least. He saw that Berry was a dangerous friend for his soft-hearted,
easily influenced Georgie, and told his wife that he decidedly objected
to the girls' having anything more to do with her. Mrs. Gray agreed with
him in opinion; and though there was no open rupture between the
families, Berry found herself after that placed on the footing of an
ordinary acquaintance, and was never able to regain her old position
with any of the Gray family.

But before this conversation took place it was finally settled that
Candace was to stay always, and be Cousin Kate's fourth daughter, and a
sister to her three cousins.