I pleaded with my father--not for my own sake, but for my mother's.

I told him I would go anywhere, do anything, if he would only keep her secret safe.

I might as well have pleaded with the rocks.

He sat there with a stern face until I went down on my knees to him and begged him to think about it--to keep it secret for a little while at least.

He grew angry, very angry, at that.