"I don't want your defence, thank you.
You're mean and deceitful and untrue. You never have been a friend
of mine, and I don't want ever to see you again!"
Caroline Smith was horrified. "Well, upon my word. Isn't that
gratitude? Here am I, the only person in this whole place would take
any trouble with you! When the others all said that you were plain
and stupid and hadn't anything to say for yourself I stuck to you. I
did all I could, wasting all my time going to the dressmaker with
you and trying to make you look like something human, and this is
the way you repay me! Well, there's a lesson for me! Many's the time
mother's said to me, 'Carry, you'll just ruin yourself with that
kind heart of yours, laying yourself out for others when you ought
to be seeing after yourself. You've got too big a heart for this
world.' Doesn't it just show one? And to end it all with accusing me
of reading your letters! If you choose to sit in the park after dark
with a man who everybody knows--"
"Either you're going to leave this room or I am," said Maggie.
"Thank you!" said Caroline, tossing her head. "I haven't the
slightest desire to stay, I assure you! Only you'll be sorry for
this, Maggie Cardinal, you will indeed!"
With a swish of the skirts and a violent banging of the door she was
gone.
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