“And you really tell me, his child, that you prefer that person?”
“I think I shall be quite happy with him,” said Mrs. Howland. “I really do. He is awfully kind, and his funny little ways amuse me.”
“Oh mother!”
“You will be good about it, Maggie; won’t you?” said Mrs. Howland. “You won’t destroy your poor mother’s happiness? I have had such lonely years, and such a struggle to keep my head above water; and now that good man comes along and offers me a home and every comfort. I am not young, dear; I am five-and-forty; and there is nothing before me if I refuse Mr. Martin but an old age of great poverty and terrible loneliness. You won’t stand in my way, Maggie?”
“I can’t, mother; though it gives me agony to think of your marrying him.”
“But you’ll get quite accustomed to it after a little; and he is really very funny, I can assure you; he puts me into fits of laughter. You will get accustomed to him, darling; you will come and live with your new father and me at Laburnum Villa?”
“Mother, you must know that I never will.”
“But what are you to do, Maggie? You’ve got no money at all.”
“Oh mother!” said poor Maggie, “it costs very little to keep me at Aylmer House; you know that quite, quite well. Please do let me go on with my education. Afterwards I can earn 87 my living as a teacher or in some profession, for I have plenty of talent. I take after father in that.”
“Oh yes, I know I always was a fool,” said Mrs. Howland; “but I have a way with people for all that.”