“I really fail to see it, Emma. Considering the unfortunate circumstances connected with her, it seems to me that she has been very well treated.”
“I don’t think so, father, and you only believe it because you are not a woman and do not understand. Suppose, now, that I, your daughter whom you are fond of, were in her place to-day, without a friend or home, feeling myself a lady and yet obliged to mix with rough people and to be the mark of their sneers, jealousy and evil-speaking, should you say that I was well treated? Suppose that I was going to-morrow to be thrown, without help or experience, on to the world to earn my bread there, should you——”
“I absolutely decline to suppose anything of the sort, Emma,” he answered passionately. “Bother the girl! Why does she put such ideas into your head?”
“Really, father,” she said, opening her eyes wide, “there is no need for you to get angry with Joan Haste, especially as she told me that you had always been so kind to her.”
“I am not angry, Emma, but one way and another that girl gives me more trouble than enough. She might make a very good marriage, and settle herself in life out of reach of all these disagreeables, about which she seems to have been whining to you, but she is so pig-headed that she won’t.”
“But surely, father, you wouldn’t expect her to marry a man she doesn’t like, would you? Why, I have heard you say that you thought it better that a woman should never be born than that she should be forced into a distasteful marriage.”
“Circumstances alter cases, and certainly it would have been better if she had never been born,” answered Mr. Levinger, who seemed quite beside himself with irritation. “However, there it is: she won’t marry, she won’t do anything except bring trouble upon others with her confounded beauty, and make herself the object of scandal.”
“I think that it is time for me to go and dress,” said Emma coldly.
“I forgot, my dear; I should not have spoken of that before you, but really I feel quite unhinged to-night. I suppose that you have no idea of what I am alluding to, but if not you soon will have, for some kind friend is sure to tell you.”
“I—have an idea, father.”