Amale——evensuchamaleasTibby——wasenoughtostopthefoolery。Thebarrierofsex，thoughdecreasingamongthecivilized，isstillhigh，andhigheronthesideofwomen。Helencouldtellhersisterall，andhercousinmuchaboutPaul；shetoldherbrothernothing。Itwasnotprudishness，forshenowspokeof“theWilcoxideal“withlaughter，andevenwithagrowingbrutality。Norwasitprecaution，forTibbyseldomrepeatedanynewsthatdidnotconcernhimself。Itwasratherthefeelingthatshebetrayedasecretintothecampofmen，andthat，howevertrivialitwasonthissideofthebarrier，itwouldbecomeimportantonthat。Soshestopped，orratherbegantofoolonothersubjects，untilherlong-sufferingrelativesdroveherupstairs。Frä；uleinMosebachfollowedher，butlingeredtosayheavilyoverthebanisterstoMargaret，“Itisallright——shedoesnotlovetheyoungman——hehasnotbeenworthyofher。“
“Yes，Iknow；thanksverymuch。“
“IthoughtIdidrighttotellyou。“
“Eversomanythanks。“
“What\'sthat？“askedTibby。Noonetoldhim，andheproceededintothedining-room，toeatElvasplums。