"She would not be crying," he said, "unless
she had something to cry for."
"Pray don't make a fuss about things you don't understand," said his
wife. "Mary, are you coming to the table? If not you had better go
up-stairs. I hate such ways, and I won't have them. This comes of
Ushanting! I knew what it would be. The place for girls is to stay at
home and mind their work,--till they have got houses of their own to
look after. That's what I intend my girls to do. There's nothing on
earth so bad for girls as that twiddle-your-thumbs visiting about when
they think they've nothing to do but to show what sort of ribbons and
gloves they've got. Now, Dolly, if you've got any hands will you cut the
bread for your father? Mary's a deal too fine a lady to do anything but
sit there and rub her eyes." After that the breakfast was eaten in
silence.
When the meal was over Mary followed her father into the office and
said that she wanted to speak to him. When Sundown had disappeared
she told her tale. "Papa," she said, "I am so sorry, but I can't do
what you want about Mr. Twentyman."
"Is it so, Mary?"
"Don't be angry with me, papa."
"Angry! No;--I won't be angry. I should be very sorry to be angry
with my girl. But what you tell me will make us all very unhappy;--
very unhappy indeed. What will you say to Lawrence Twentyman?"
"What I said before, papa.
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