easier for me to-night."

Lorelei found her mother visibly upset by the story in the
morning's newspaper.

"You told me you only went to supper with that man," Mrs. Knight
cried, tragically. "Instead of that you two were off in the
country together all night. Here's the whole thing." She
brandished the paper dramatically.

"Well, I told you a fib. But there's no harm done."

"Harm, indeed? You're ruined. I never read anything more
disgraceful; I daren't show it to Peter--it would kill him. What
EVER possessed you, after the way we've watched over you, after
the care we've taken of you? It's terrible."

"Please don't carry on so. It was too bad, of course, but--I'll
live through it."

The shock of this callous assertion seemed to rob Mrs. Knight of
speech; she stared at her daughter in grief and amazement.

"Mr. Merkle is a gentleman," Lorelei defended. "He'll regret this
publicity as much as I."

"The wretch! I'll teach him to spoil an innocent girl's career and
drag her name in the mud." Mrs. Knight glared balefully.

"You'll do nothing of the sort," said her daughter, sharply.