e said. "With anybody."

"They don't do that, even in America," said Miss Mergle.

"My dear young lady," said the clergyman, "the most elementary
principles of decorum--A day will come when you will better understand
how entirely subservient your ideas are to the very fundamentals of
our present civilisation, when you will better understand the harrowing
anxiety you have given Mrs. Milton by this inexplicable flight of yours.
We can only put things down at present, in charity, to your ignorance--"

"You have to consider the general body of opinion, too," said Widgery.

"Precisely," said Miss Mergle. "There is no such thing as conduct in the
absolute." "If once this most unfortunate business gets about," said the
clergyman, "it will do you infinite harm."

"But I'VE done nothing wrong. Why should I be responsible for other
people's--"

"The world has no charity," said Mrs. Milton.

"For a girl," said Jessie. "No."

"Now do let us stop arguing, my dear young lady, and let us listen
to reason. Never mind how or why, this conduct of yours will do you
infinite harm, if once it is generally known. And not only that, it will
cause infinite pain to those who care for you. But if you will return at
once to your home, causing it to be understood that you have been with
friends for these last few days--"

"Tell lies," said Jessie. "Certainly not. Most certainly not. But I
understand that is how your absence is understood at present, and there
is no reason--"

Jessie's grip tightened on her handkerchief. "I won't go back," she
said, "to have it as I did before. I want a room of my own, what books I
need to read, to be free to go out by myself alone, Teaching--"

"Anything," said Mrs. Milton, "anything in reason."

"But will you keep your promise?" said Jessie.

"Surely you won't dictate to your mother!" said Widgery.

"My stepmother! I don't want to dictate. I want definite promises now."

"This is most unreasonable," said the clergyman. "Very well," said
Jessie, swallowing a sob but with unusual resolution. "Then I won't go
back. My life is being frittered away--"

"LET her have her way," said Widgery.

"A room then. All your Men. I'm not to come down and talk away half my
days--"

"My dear child, if only to save you," said Mrs. Milton. "If you don't
keep your promise--"

"Then I take it the matter is practically concluded," said the
clergyman. "And that you very properly submit to return to your proper
hom