The Blood rushed to my Face, though we were in the Dark. "That's quite another Matter," said I. "You don't know that I care for him."
"Oh Patty! how can you say so?"
"At all Events, he has never shown me any decided Preference that would justify me, as a modest young Woman, in letting his Name escape my Lips. You know, Prudence, how different the Cases are. Certainly, if my dear Mother, who is all Kindness and Truth, were to think fit to speak to me on that or any similar Subject, I might blush, I might shed a Tear, I might feel very uncomfortable, but I should answer her with perfect Sincerity."
"Ah Patty! you are very good—And I am very bad—"
"Nay, I won't hear you say that of yourself. You have certainly been very, very foolish."
"And 'the Foolishness of Fools is Sin.'" Here she again wept.
"Well, Prue, if it be so, still we know what is to be done."
"What? Oh, tell me!"
"'I will arise, and go unto my Father, and will say unto him—'"
"Oh, not to my Father!"