Oh, Mr. Falkner,
if you are a Christian pray for me before it is too late. Good-night."
And she was gone; just as her brother Frank came up the walk.
Young Goodrich stopped short when he saw Dick, and then sprang up the
steps and into the house, just in time to see his sister going up the
stairway to her room.
CHAPTER XVII
The day following Amy's adventure with her drunken escort, and her
rescue by Dick Falkner, Frank Goodrich had a long interview with his
father, which resulted in Adam's calling his daughter into his library
that evening. Without any preface whatever, he began, in an angry tone:
"I understand, Miss, that you have disobeyed my express commands in
regard to that tramp printer, and that you have been with him again;
and that too, late at night. Now I have simply to tell you that you
must choose between him and your home. I will _not_ have a child of
mine keeping such company. You must either give him up or go."
"But father, you do not know the circumstances or you would not talk
so."
"No circumstances can excuse your conduct; I know you were with him
and that is enough."
"Indeed I have not disobeyed you; father, you do not understand; I was
in Mr. Falkner's company only by accident, and--"
"Stop. Don't add a falsehood to your conduct. I understand quite enough.
Your own brother saw you bidding him an affectionate good-night at one
o'clock, on my doorstep. Such things do not happen by accident. I
wonder that you dare look me in the face after roaming the streets at
that time of night with such a disreputable character.
Pages:
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178