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Thepicturefilledherwithshame.ShehadknownsincechildhoodaboutMr.Royall’s“habits”:hadseenhim,asshewentuptobed,sittingmoroselyinhisoffice,abottleathiselbow;orcominghome,heavyandquarrelsome,fromhisbusinessexpeditionstoHepburnorSpringfield;buttheideaofhisassociatinghimselfpubliclywithabandofdisreputablegirlsandbar-roomloaferswasnewanddreadfultoher.
“Oh——”shesaidinagaspofmisery;andreleasingherselffromHarney’sarmshewentstraightuptoMr.Royall.
“Youcomehomewithme—youcomerighthomewithme,”shesaidinalowsternvoice,asifshehadnotheardhisapostrophe;andoneofthegirlscalledout:“Say,howmanyfellersdoesshewant?”
Therewasanotherlaugh,followedbyapauseofcuriosity,duringwhichMr.RoyallcontinuedtoglareatCharity.Atlengthhistwitchinglipsparted.“Isaid,’You—damn—whore!’”herepeatedwithprecision,steadyinghimselfonJulia’sshoulder.
Laughsandjeerswerebeginningtospringupfromthecircleofpeoplebeyondtheirgroup;andavoicecalledoutfromthegangway:“Now,then,steplivelythere—allABOARD!”Thepressureofapproachinganddepartingpassengersforcedtheactorsintherapidsceneapart,andpushedthembackintothethrong.CharityfoundherselfclingingtoHarney’sarmandsobbingdesperately.Mr.Royallhaddisappeared,andinthedistancesheheardtherecedingsoundofJulia’slaugh.
Theboat,ladentothetaffrail,waspuffingawayonherlasttrip.
