"Oh, there was nothing. Of course there was much more to say about mine. She was saying that she would be glad to be a bridesmaid."
"Pray don't have her."
"Why not, aunt?"
"I could not possibly be there if you did. I have been compelled to divorce her from my heart."
"Poor Fanny!"
"But she was not ashamed of what she is doing?"
"I should say not. She is not one of those that are ever ashamed."
"No, no. Nothing would make her ashamed. All ideas of propriety she has banished from her,—as though they didn't exist. I expect to hear that she disregards marriage altogether."
"Aunt Clara!"
"What can you expect from doctrines such as those which she and her brother share? Thank God, you have never been in the way of hearing of such things. It breaks my heart when I think of what my own darlings will be sure to hear some of these days,—should their half-brother and half-sister still be left alive. But, Amaldina, pray do not have her for one of your bridesmaids." Lady Amaldina, remembering that her cousin was very handsome, and also that there might be a difficulty in making up the twenty titled virgins, gave her aunt no promise.