THE TAPESTRY OF PENELOPE
calling on them would ruin them. Suppose that you had to do it all alone—and that you were only a girl, after all, like me!"
"Evelyn," says I again, "I don't understand. You got to speak plain. If you are in trouble—or any of your friends—you got two brave boys to fight for you—and another old man that'll do his best to hurt any one who hurts you!"
"Ah, daddy, daddy, daddy, how well I know that! And how bitter that makes it!"
"I expect it s about your being a rebel, ain't it?" asks I.
She nods.
"Well, how often must I say not to bother about that—that we don't care how rebel you are? You shan't be hurt for it! We'll see to that!"
She cries and leans her nice head down on me.
"Oh, if you only could—if you only could, daddy, daddy, darling! Ah, you are the only ones who can't. Daddy, if they kill me—will
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