"A Fleet-Marriage, or Something of that Sort," said I, reluctantly.
"A Fleet-Marriage?" cried my Mother, holding up her Hands, and sinking back in her Chair.
"Mother! Mother! hear me," cries Prue, casting her Arms across my Mother's knees and looking up at her. "We parted at the Church-door,—House-door, I mean; we knew we were only engaged; we did not look on it as a regular Marriage,—only as binding us together a little—it was the Thought of a Moment—Tom proposed it first—"
"I suppose so," said my Mother, with a Tone of infinite Scorn; "but I little thought that a Daughter of mine could be so persuaded. Oh Prue, Prue! I never could have believed it of you! No Wonder you have gone about sighing and hanging your Head—it has been your only Act of Grace."
Prue, humiliated beyond Expression at these Reproaches, was crying silently—"Don't tell my Father," at length said she.
"Certainly I shall not," said my Mother, still chafed. "I should be quite ashamed of mentioning such a disgraceful Transaction to him—worthier of a Wapping Sailor than of his Brother's Son—Mate to a respectable Merchant Vessel. A Thing only done by the Lowest of the Low—"
"And a few of the Highest of the High," put in I.
"Who thereby reduce themselves to an ignominious Level with the Lowest of the Low," persisted my Mother. "It ought to be put down by Act of Parliament! It will shortly, I understand from Dr. Elwes, who was speaking of the Abuse a little While ago, little thinking that a Culprit stood in his Presence. I never could have believed it of Tom! never have supposed that he could so abuse a Mother's Confidence, and sail off, leaving Dissimulation and Discord behind him—he that used to say 'he couldn't bear to put People to the least Inconvenience!'"
At the Recurrence to this old Catch-Word of his, Prue and I could neither of us help bursting out laughing. My Mother, quite against her Will, was obliged to laugh too. At this Moment, the Door opened; and who should come in but Gatty!
I sprang towards her, while Prue, with a brief Word in passing, took the Opportunity to escape.