Candy ran up hill and down dale, choking and having closed eyes. Suddenly someone seized her by the elbow, and she stopped.
- Candy!
The girl, having been frightened, pulled out her hand, but when light fell on a face of the young man, Ms. Whyte recognized him:
- Archie… - Candy took breath, she panted because of dances, run and indignation. Her face reddened, sweat droplets acted on her forehead. The hairdress was disheveled, and her breast swelled up and doun from decollete. The girl looked down – her decollete, really, was too large, and tried to tighten edge of a bodice by hand.
Her friend stood silently, examining Candy as though he saw her for the first time. It disturbed Ms. White:
- Archie. And where is Annie? – she asked.
He looked at Candy, but she looked away, for some reason being afraid look into his eyes.
- Annie… - Cornuell spoke with absent tone. – Anny is there, in a hall now. I wanted to talk with you. Alone, - suddenly Archie added rigidly as though having decided something.
- Archie … - Candy looked up, and suddenly with horror saw the same thing in brown eyes of her old friend, thing, that she saw in eyes of herworst enemy, Neil. Love and … desire! She stood still, and the young man continued:
- Listen, Candy, now I have only one opportunity to admit. Then … Then I wasn't in time, I couldn't. At first because of this conceited aristocrat Terry … Then … All right, who cares. I feel that soon there will be no turning back for me, and my heart understand that I make awful … mistake. Candy, I want to tell you, that I always…
- Stop, Archie! – Candy regained consciousness and cried. – Archie if you will say one more word, I will never, never, you hear? I won't talking with you anymore! How could you! Today, day of your engagement!
- Candy, - Archie took her for shoulders, trying to calm, but the girl escaped.
"What is with him?!" - Candy thought, wading through crowd guests to her place. She was upset. "Why did Archie … screw up everything?" There was such wonderful day, and Annie was so happy … And this … Why did he speak about love?
Ms. White felt burning shame about her friend, about his feeling which was no forgiveness, and also for some reason was angry with herself like she became traitress. "But I haven't do anything!" - Candy thought sadly. "I haven't do anything to make Archie say so…"
Albert already got up from his place and with anxiety looked around dancing place in hall. Having seen him, Candy rushed to him.
- Mr. Albert! – the girl nearly cried.
- Candy!... What have happen, Candy?
- Mr. Albert, I … am tired. I want to leave.
Green eyes beggarly looked at the blue ones.
- Of course, we will leave, Candy.
The young man took Candy's hand, and they left the hall imperceptibly.
Inhaling fresh air, Ms. White calmed down, but all the same, spiteful Neil's words sounded in her ears, and this meeting with Archie…
- Mr. Albert!
- Yes?
- Take me, please, to the the Pony's Home.
- To the Pony's Home? – Her guardian angel was surprised. - But, wait, good room is prepared for you here, in Lakewood.
- Please! I want … to the Pony's Home!
- Of course, Candy as you wish, - Albert shrugged shoulders.
Candy got into the car, and they went. The motor cheerfully hummed, but the girl instead of usual calm felt strange concern of being alone with her friend . Probably, reason was in an unusual dress, it was really … too open. Candy tried to tighten bodice up imperceptibly once again. She will not put on it again!
On car glass she as though saw the face of Nile distorted by hatred: "The friend doesn't give such dresses … He wishes … to take you!"
Candy shake her head, trying to shake out these words from memory. The dirty person, who has dirty thoughts …
- Disgusting, disgusting person! – the girl also didn't notice that said these words aloud.
- Are you telling about Neil? – with an amazing insight her satellite asked.
- Yes … - Ms. White said with astonishment. – And how did you guess? – unexpectedly this insight brought her irritation. Her thoughts belong only to her!
- And who else can be disgusting, in your environment? – Albert burst out laughing, having turned his head to Candy. His blue eyes were so kind, as well as always, but the girl all the same felt uncomfortably. She remembered how Archie can be.
- Many, unfortunately, can be same disgusting like him, - Candy spoke with grief, remembering act of her friend. How he could directly in day of his engagement tell such nonsense!
Neil's voice as voice of snakes from bible history began to sound in her head again. "The friend doesn't give such dresses …" Interestingly how Mr. Albert guessed her size? And this dress which she put on after Neil's trap, and now? Means, from his attentive eyes her figure didn't take cover?
Candy tried to tighten edge of a dress up again to cover a breast.
- What are you doing, Candy? – the young man looked at her, and the girl, having tracked his look, understood that he looks at her decollete.
She looked into his eyes, and with horror saw into them same expression that was in Neil and Archie's ones.
- Anything! – Candy lowered a hand. Hands shivered. She was shaken because of indignation. What is it with them today! She will finish it once and for all!
- Mr. Albert! – Ms. White spoke exactingly.
- What? what is going with you, Candy? – Albert looked at his ward, the girl's face flared from indignation, eyebrows were frowned. – Only one your look brings me into a shiver! – he tried to laugh.
- Mr. Albert, I will give you money for my dress. Ok?
- Candy, what are you talking about?
- I will give money for the dress. I decided so. You gave too many gifts for me!
- But, Candy … It is pleasant to me to do it for you. It makes me happy.
- I understand … But you shouldn't give me such expensive gifts, if, of course it is not not Birthday or Christmas. I have to earn to myself for living independently. I always aspired to it.
- I understand nothing. You never spoke so, you were always glad to take my gifts! What the nonsenses, Candy!
The girl suddenly felt that he pressed her. It angered her even more.
- Mr. Albert. One more thing. I said that wanted to refuse a Andrew surname . But it didn't occur officially. Is possible to make it, for example, on Monday, the day after tomorrow?
The young man would throw up the hands if it wasn't necessary to drive the car.
- Candy! What had happened with you? Is it because of Legan you are so upset? What have he told you during dance?
- No, it's not because of him! I decided. I want to be independent, free! I always seeked it! I don't want to hide for Andrew surname. I ask you why you can't help me with this my decision? – The girl almost cried out these words, and
Albert gave up.
- Candy, I will make everything as you wish. I will refuse the adoption you and I will take money for the dress. Don't worry, Candy …
- Thanks …
The car carried them to the house of Candy's childhood, to the Pony's Home by night road.