She stood up, and he sprang to his feet also, and passed his arm through
hers with an air of authority. "Now, Charity, you're coming back with
me."

She looked at him and shook her head. "I ain't ever going back. You
don't know."

"What don't I know?" She was silent, and he continued: "What happened on
the wharf was horrible--it's natural you should feel as you do. But it
doesn't make any real difference: you can't be hurt by such things.
You must try to forget. And you must try to understand that men... men
sometimes..."

"I know about men. That's why."

He coloured a little at the retort, as though it had touched him in a
way she did not suspect.

"Well, then... you must know one has to make allowances.... He'd been
drinking...."

"I know all that, too. I've seen him so before. But he wouldn't have
dared speak to me that way if he hadn't..."

"Hadn't what? What do you mean?"

"Hadn't wanted me to be like those other girls...." She lowered her
voice and looked away from him. "So's 't he wouldn't have to go out...."

Harney stared at her. For a moment he did not seem to seize her meaning;