"'To my Mother, and will say unto her, Mother, I have....'"
My own Tears here burst forth. I believe they, and the few Words of the Text I had cited proved the best Eloquence; for in an Instant Prue was clinging to me, choking in Tears, and saying, "I will! I will!"
Overcome by our Emotions, we said no more till we slept, I holding her to my Heart, full of Love and Pity, though perturbed beyond Expression at her Conduct.
My Father requiring so much of our Care, it was seldom that we were all three together; however, the next Day, after he had dined with more Comfort to himself than usual, he folded his Hands together and said, "Thank God for my good Dinner! And now I'll have a Nap, and you may all go down Stairs till I pull the Bell."
Some trifling Affair prevented my immediately joining my Mother and Sister. When I went into the Parlour, I found Prue had just screwed her Courage to the Point of Confession. "Mother," she was saying, "I've done so wrong—" and began to cry.
"What is it, Prue?" said my Mother gently, who was blanching Almonds.
"Say first, Mother, that you'll forgive me—"
"Nay, let me first hear what I have to forgive. I am not such a very unforgiving Person, Child, am I?"
"No indeed, Mother!" kissing her Hand. "But oh! I don't know what you'll say! I'm engaged to Tom!"
"I guessed as much long ago," said my Mother coolly.