“It is not for you, an unmarried woman, to instruct me in the ways of young lovers! I repeat, Letitia Prall, I can take care of my daughter. Her welfare in no way concerns you. I am only thankful we discovered this state of things before it is too late. Good Heavens! You don’t suppose it is too late, do you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t suppose those young idiots are—married!”
“Of course not! My Richard is above such clandestine ways!”
“Your Richard isn’t above anything! My Dorcas is, but—he might have persuaded her—oh, well, I’ll attend to Dorcas. There is no need for you to tarry longer.”
The exaggerated courtesy of her manner goaded Miss Prall to rudeness.
“I shall stay as long as I like,” she returned, stubbornly sitting still. “There is more to be said, Adeline Everett. There is more to be done. I want your assurance that you will move away,—it doesn’t suit my plans to leave this house,—and that you will take your forward and designing daughter far enough to keep her from maneuvering to ensnare my nephew.”
“I shall be only too glad to take my daughter away from the vicinity of your crack-brained charge! What has Dick Bates ever done? He has never earned a dollar for himself!”
“He doesn’t need to. He is a genius; he will yet astonish the world with his inventions. You know me well enough to know that I speak truth. Moreover, he is his uncle’s sole heir!”
“Binney, the Bun man!”