to a whisper.

"They say it's your child, and that ye're afraid to
tell who the father is."

Jane caught at the chair for support and then sank
slowly into her seat.

"Who says so?" she gasped.

"Nobody that you or I know; some of the beach-
combers and hide-by-nights, I think, started it.
Pokeberry's girl told me; her brother works in the
shipyard."

Jane sat looking at Martha with staring eyes.

"How dare they--"

"They dare do anything, and we can't answer
back. That's what's goin' to make it hard. It's
nobody's business, but that don't satisfy 'em. I've
been through it meself; I know how mean they
can be."

"They shall never know--not while I have life
left in me," Jane exclaimed firmly.

"Yes, but that won't keep 'em from lyin'."