"Yes," she agreed, adding with a little sob: "Oh, father, you left her in my care, but I did not know, and if I had, it would not have made any difference."
"No, no; I understand. She has told me everything herself."
"Oh, father, it is shocking! Think of the disgrace. Oh, you can't imagine how dreadful I feel about it!"
"I think I can," he replied sadly. "My poor child, I had hoped to have been allowed to keep this trouble from you, but God willed it otherwise. Have you seen your mother to-day?"
"No, father. She said she did not wish to see me."
"Ah, poor thing, she is ashamed to face you! If I were you, when you meet, I would not revert to—to her illness at all."
"I will not."
"I shall try and persuade Mrs. Lute to come and spend a few days with us, in order to cheer us all up."
"Oh, father, Mrs. Lute was the cause of all this trouble."
"I am aware of it; but her intention in offering your mother wine was an excellent one, she had no idea of working mischief. I shall simply explain to her that this is a teetotal household, and she is not the woman I take her to be if, after that, she refuses an invitation to visit us."