"I thought you were never coming," she said.
Gwenda held her in her arms. She faced them.
"What have you been doing to her--all of you?"
Rowcliffe answered. Though he was the innocent one of the three he
looked the guiltiest. He looked utterly ashamed.
"We've had rather a scene, and it's been a bit too much for her," he
said.
"So I see," said Gwenda. She had not greeted Mary or her father.
"If you could persuade her to go upstairs to bed----"
"I've told you I won't go till he comes," said Ally.
She sat down on the sofa as a sign that she was going to wait.
"Till who comes?" Gwenda asked.
She stared at the three with a fierce amazement. And they were
abashed.
"She doesn't know, Steve," said Mary.
"I certainly don't," said Gwenda.
She sat down beside Ally.
"Has anybody been bullying you, Ally?"
"They've all been bullying me except Steven. Steven's been an angel.
He doesn't believe what they say. Papa says I'm a shameful girl, and
Mary says I took Jim Greatorex from Essy. And they think----"
"Never mind what they think, darling."
"I must protest----"
The Vicar would have burst out again but that his son-in-law
restrained him.
"Better leave her to Gwenda," he said.
He opened the door of the study. "Really, sir, I think you'd better.
And you, too, Mary."
And with her husband's compelling hand on her shoulder Mary went into
the study.
The Vicar followed them.
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