JOHNTOWN, TENN.
-417
"Yes," the girl said, and peeled off her black gloves.
"You have been to that moving picture that glorifies lust and
violence."
"They were in love," the girl said. "That was all. And I don't
guess there was any more fighting and all than in the
Birth of a
Nation)
and you said you liked that."
"That was different," Miss Abernathy said.
"This is supposed to be educational," the girl said.
"It
is
his–
torical, in its way. I found it educational."
"Presumably," Miss Abernathy said, and curled her lip.
"I went to the movie with Mr. Harrick," the girl announced
sweetly, stealing what she knew was the thunder Miss Abernathy
held in reserve, and before Miss Abernathy could reply, added, "and
with Mr. and Mrs. Blunden, who are quite respectable, and with
Mrs. Blunden's old, old mother."
She was proud of that last touch. She didn't know what had
got into her, but she felt like riding it out.
Miss Abernathy got up to her scantling-thin height. "You know
my views," she said. "You have rented a room in my house, and as
long as you remain under this roof I expect conduct that will not re–
flect discredit on this house or the name of my father who built it."
"Miss Abernathy," the girl said, "I know that your father was
a very respectable physician."
"He was indeed," Miss Abernathy said.
"Well, mine is a very able lawyer, and has won cases in front
of the Supreme Court of this state. He knows all about the laws of
libel, and if anything should be insinuated about his daughter which
would not stand up in court, he would make it cost very, very dear."
"Well, you'd never get another job teaching," Miss Abernathy
said, leaning viperously. "Not at Johntown, or anywhere else!"
"But you see," Celia Hornby said, gay and surprised at what
she was going to say, "I'm not going to teach any more. I'm going
to get married!"
"To--to that-"
"Yes, of course," she said. "To that blacksmith! Only he hasn't
proposed. He doesn't even know it yet, but he will."
"Ah," Miss Abernathy breathed, eyes glittering, "so you're-"
The girl shook her head, laughing. She had never had so much
