"I'm sure Osborn would wish you to—"
"How do you know what Osborn would wish?" And she said as so many rebellious women have said before her: "He promised I should never have another. He was crying. I've never told you before, but he was. He cried; and promised me."
"Cried!" Mrs. Amber echoed aghast. "Poor fellow, oh, poor fellow! Osborn has a very good heart. The dear boy!"
"What about me, mother? Where's your sympathy for me? I cried, too."
"We're different."
"No, we aren't. And he promised."
"Oh, my duck," said Mrs. Amber in a voice of confidential bustle, "that's not to be depended on. Men always promise these things; I've known it scores of times. But it doesn't do to depend upon them, love."
"I despise men."
"Oh, don't say that, like Miss Winter. I never did approve of that girl."
"She's wiser than I. She won't marry."