The question ended in a mere gasp. Mrs. Cross' eyes were darkened with incredulous horror.
"Yes," said Bertha, calmly, pleasantly, "we have decided that there's no choice. The business is a very good one; it improves from day to day; now that there are two assistants, Mr. Warburton need not work so hard as he used to."
"But, my dearest Bertha, you mean to say that you are going to be the wife of a grocer?"
"Yes, mother, I really have made up my mind to it. After all, is it so very disgraceful?"
"What will your friends say? What will—"
"Mrs. Grundy?" interposed Bertha.
"I was going to say Mrs. Franks—"
Bertha nodded, and answered laughingly:
"That's very much the same thing, I'm afraid."