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young,anditismydutytoletnoyoungpersongodownhillwithoutonewarningword.Youhavebroughtmuchevilonourvillage—whyyou,astranger,shouldbebentonmakingusallunhappyIcan'timagine.Youhypocriticallytrytopretendthatwhatplainpeoplecallevilisreallygood.Butyourlastaction,forcingEmmaHancocktobeathiefandworse,evenyoucannotpossiblydefend.Youhavemuchonyourconscience—far,farmorethanIshouldcaretohaveonmine.HowwickedtogiveallthatmoneytoMrs.Jones.Don'tyouseeyouaretemptingpeoplewhoknowsheisdefencelesstostealitfromher?Perhapsevenmurderher?Isavedherfromthat—youdidnotreckonwithme,yousee.Takemyadvice—leaveSymford,andgobacktowhereyoucamefrom"—Priscillastarted—"andgetsomethingtodothatwillkeepyoufullyoccupied.Ifyoudon't,you'llbelayingupawretched,perhapsadegradedfutureforyourself.Don'tsuppose,"—hervoicegrewveryloud—"don'tsupposewearefoolshereandarenotallofusawareofthewayyouhavetriedtolureyoungmenon"—Priscillastartedagain—"inthehope,ofcourse,ofgettingoneofthemtomarryyou.Butyourintentionshavebeenfrustratedluckily,intheonecasebyProvidenceflingingyourvictimonabedofsicknessandintheotherbyyourhavingaltogethermistakenthesortofyoungfellowyouweredealingwith." Mrs.Morrisonpausedforbreath.Thislastpartofherspeechhadbeenmadewithaneveraccumulatingrage.Priscillastoodlookingather,hereyebrowsdrawndownveryleveloverhereyes. "Mysonismuchtoosteadyandconscientious,besidesbeingtoomuchaccustomedtofirst-ratesociety,tostooptoanythingsovulgar—" "Asmyself?"inquiredPriscilla. "Asalove-affairwiththefirststraygirlhepicksup." "Doyoumeanme?" "Hesawthroughyourintentions,laughedatthem,andcalmlyreturnedtohisstudiesatCambridge." "Iboxedhisears." "What?" "Iboxedhisears." "You?" "Iboxedhisears.That'swhyhewent.Hedidn'tgocalmly.Itwasn'thisstudies." "Howdareyoubox—oh,thisistoohorrible—andyoustandthereandtellmesotomyface?" "I'mafraidImust.Thetoneofyourremarkspositivelydemandsit.Yourson'sconductpositivelydemandedthatIshouldboxhisears.SoIdid." "Ofalltheshameless—" "I'mafraidyou'rebecominglikehim—altogetherimpossible." "Youfirstlurehimon,andthen—oh,itisshameful!" "Haveyoufinishedwhatyoucamefor?" "Youarethemostbrazen—" "Hush.Dobecareful.Supposemyuncleweretohearyou?Ifyou'vefinishedwon'tyougo?" "Go?IshallnotgotillIhavesaidmysay.IshallsendthevicartoyouaboutRobin—suchconductisso—soinfamousthatIcan't—Ican't—Ican't—" "I'msorryifithasdistressedyou." "Distressedme?Youarethemost—" "ReallyIthinkwe'vedone,haven'twe?"saidPriscillahurriedly,dreadfullyafraidlestFritzingshouldcomeinandhearherbeingcallednames. "Tothinkthatyoudared—tothinkthatmy—mynobleboy—" "Hewasn'tverynoble.Mothersdon'teverreallyknowtheirsons,Ithink." "Shamelessgirl!"criedMrs.Morrison,soloud,socompletelybesideherself,thatPriscillahastilyrangherbell,certainthatFritzingmusthearandwouldplungeintoherrescueandofallthingsshehadlearnedtodreadFritzing'splungingtoherrescue."Openthedoorforthislady,"shesaidtoAnnalise,whoappearedwithamarvellouspromptitudeandasMrs.MorrisonstillstoodhergroundandrefusedtoseeeitherAnnaliseorthedoorPriscillaendedtheinterviewbywalkingoutherself,withgreatdignity,intothebathroom.