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“You needn’t use the word. It seems Maddy was just gay and laughing about it. She’d run in to see a friend, she’d hint of something she knew—and then she’d ask for a loan of a few hundreds—or more, according to the importance of the secret.”

“How did she learn these things?”

“Oh, every woman knows her neighbors’ secrets—and they often hold them over each other’s heads, as a rod in pickle. But they rarely get money on them—they’d be afraid.”

“Maddy knew no such thing as fear.”

“No. But she didn’t realize that what she was doing was really a crime. Well, then, maybe instead of paying her, some woman would tell a bit of scandal about some other woman—that would give Maddy a fresh start. Any way—that’s the way things were.”

“How did you learn it all?”

“Emmy Gardner told me. She came to me in real distress, fearing Maddy would get into trouble. Emmy asked me to come to you about it—but I didn’t think it was my business to do so. I didn’t know whether Emmy was actuated by real concern for Maddy, as she pretended, or whether in it was but malicious revenge on her own part.”

“Good old Nick, for telling me now. The next thing is to keep it secret. Can that be done?”

“From whom?”

“From everybody who doesn’t already know it. But, primarily, from Mrs. Selden. I hope she’ll never find it out. She idolized the child, and it would grieve her so deeply.”

“We can probably keep it from her—unless some busybody tattles.”

“Claudine knows?”