"Hearing about people, Papa! Is that fair? Are we not always hearing tales about everybody?"
"My dear child, you must take my word for something."
"I will take it for everything in all the world, Papa."
"He has been a thoroughly bad young man."
"But, Papa—"
"You must take my word for it when I tell you that I have positive proof of what I am telling you."
"But, Papa—"
"Is not that enough?"
"No, Papa. I am heartily sorry that he should have been what you call a bad young man. I wish young men weren't so bad;—that there were no racecourses, and betting, and all that. But if he had been my brother instead of my cousin—"
"Don't talk about your brother, Emily."