“Refuse her! When did I refuse you anything? But a girl—a young lady—I don’t understand. Is it any one I know?”
“You have seen her. You remember the young lady who helped select your shawl—Miss Eva Laurence?”
“That splendid creature! You adopt her?
“Yes, I will adopt her; in fact, you must do it for me if possible.”
“And she is to live here?”
“That is what I desire.”
“As my daughter?”
“Would you be ashamed of her?”
“Ashamed? Why you and I can make her like a princess. She can go out with me in the carriage, write my letters, make calls. She shall have a maid of her own—shopping money without end.”
“There, there, sister, your heart is running away with you. We must be kind to the girl without spoiling her. She is a sweet, modest young creature, rich in feeling and bright as a flower. Let us keep her so.”