It was, of course, only a matter of a few moments before Mrs. Eaton led up to the event of the day before. Nancy caught the crisp change in the woman's voice. The story gained much in her telling—of Nancy's impertinence in forcing the Hopworth young 'uns among her "little dears," then how she had, though fully aware of her, Mrs. Eaton's, explicit orders, flaunted Eric Hopworth's brood in the face of every respectable man, woman and child of Freedom—actually desecrating the very flags she had—taken—out of the Sunday-school room.
The story was interrupted by many sighs and sniffs.
"Of course everybody on this Island that knows me and my Archie, Cyrus says, will feel for me. I might as well as not of been slapped in the face. And I said to Cyrus, "I think Miss Leavitt ought to know—she's taken that girl there!" And Cyrus and I both said that of course no one would be surprised, seeing she's that branch of your family where I suppose—you'll forgive me for speaking right out plain, you can expect almost any kind of actions!"
Nancy swung her feet down out of the hammock. "The cat," she breathed, straightening. She could see that stinging shaft plunge straight into poor Aunt Sabrina's heart and turn! She held her breath for Aunt Sabrina's answer.
Miss Sabrina's voice was cold and her words measured. "I am very sorry this has happened, Mrs. Eaton. But I am sure my niece did not dream of impertinence. She has not been here long enough to know of our prejudices!"
"Bully!" Nancy, said, almost aloud. "That's a time when breeding shows!"
Mrs. Eaton was plainly annoyed at Miss Sabrina's defence. Her voice took on a crisper edge. "She's been here long enough to pick up with Judson's hired man! Your notions may be different from mine, Miss Leavitt, but I wouldn't 'low any girl of mine to go swimming at Cove's Hole with the Hopworth young 'uns! Dick Snead told his mother and his mother told my Cousin 'Manthy. Ain't there any better folks she can take up with on this Island than a hired man and the Hopworths?" Her shrill inflection seemed to say, "There—I have you now!"
Nancy's feet beat a war-dance. She wanted to rush in to her own defence—had Dick Snead told his mother and his mother told Cousin 'Manthy that she had swam forty strokes under water? Discretion, however, bade her use caution.
A rustling indicated that the caller, her errand accomplished, had risen to go. She shot her last tiny, poisoned arrow. "Of course I said to Cyrus all of us on the Island know all that poor Miss Leavitt's had to stand, what with her brother and then her sister! And that's why, I said to Cyrus, Miss Leavitt ought to know about these goings on, or else something else would come down on your poor head! I must run along, now, 'Manthy came in to watch my jam. That Carroll girl I got over at Greenfield isn't worth her keep—you have to watch her every moment!"
All the pride of generations of Leavitts must have come to Miss Sabrina's rescue at that moment! She met the final thrust with calm dignity.