Page:The Star in the Window.pdf/241

Rh (Miss Ellsworth was the General Secretary of the Women's Alliance) "Miss Ellsworth thought I knew you next best, and so, and so—oh, Rebecca, are you going off again with Dr. Booth to-night?" she broke off.

Reba flushed. "Why, yes," she said, "I was. He asked me to go to dinner with him." Then after a miserable silence, "Is it about him Miss Ellsworth asked you to speak to me?"

Louise Bartholomew did not reply directly to that. "We workers here have to be so careful about whom we go with, and how we conduct ourselves," she explained. "We're sort of examples, you see. And you and Dr. Booth are getting just a little bit talked about."

Reba couldn't reply, she was so covered with shame. That such a reprimand as this was necessary! That she was guilty of misconduct! Oh, how could she look Louise Bartholomew in the face? If she only could have told her that she and Dr. Booth were engaged to be married! If only she could wipe out all offense by that quiet announcement! But she couldn't. Not yet. The crimson of her face turned to purple.

"I'm terribly sorry, Rebecca," Louise took up again. "But people keep seeing you—the girls, the boarders, you know, at different places. But, of course you can stop it," she comforted. She reached out, and put her hand on Reba's knee. "Don't take it too seriously. I told Miss Ellsworth we had only to drop you the hint, and I was sure you wouldn't be seen alone with him anywhere another single time."

"But," murmured Reba. "I—Katherine Park used to—and you sometimes, too—go out to dinner with young men alone, and"