CHAPTER XXXIX

isone.“Whenyousawherlast,didshementionanyone’sname?Yesorno!”hethundered,sothatTibbystarted. “Inmyroomsshementionedsomefriends,calledtheBasts.” “WhoaretheBasts?” “People—friendsofhersatEvie’swedding.” “Idon’tremember.But,bygreatScott,Ido!Myaunttoldmeaboutsomerag-tag.Wasshefullofthemwhenyousawher?Isthereaman?Didshespeakoftheman?Or—lookhere—haveyouhadanydealingswithhim?” Tibbywassilent.Withoutintendingit,hehadbetrayedhissister’sconfidencehewasnotenoughinterestedinhumanlifetoseewherethingswillleadto.Hehadastrongregardforhonesty,andhisword,oncegiven,hadalwaysbeenkeptuptonow.Hewasdeeplyvexed,notonlyfortheharmhehaddoneHelen,butfortheflawhehaddiscoveredinhisownequipment. “Isee—youareinhisconfidence.Theymetatyourrooms.Oh,whatafamily,whatafamily!Godhelpthepoorpater—” AndTibbyfoundhimselfalone.