"I must leave that to you," said Michael Sunlocks.
"Aw, and safe, too," said Jacob, "for what for should we be going disgracing our own sister? It isn't natural, and her the wife of the President, too."
"Aw, no, no," said the brethren.
"He won't hear a word against her for all," whispered John to Jacob.
"A girl may be a bit wild, and doing sweethearting before she was married," said Jacob, "but that is no reason why all the world should be agate of her, poor thing; and what's it saying, 'The first slip is always forgotten?'"
"Silence," said Michael Sunlocks, sternly. "If this is what you have come to say, we can cut this meeting short."
"Lord-a-massy," cried Asher. "Is he for showing us the door, too?"
"Who says so?" said Jacob, changing his tone. Then facing about to Michael Sunlocks, he said, "It wouldn't do to be known that the President of Iceland had married a bad woman—would it?"
Michael Sunlocks did not reply, and Jacob answered himself: "No, of course not. So perhaps you'll give me back that letter I lent you yesterday."
"I haven't got it. It is destroyed," said Michael Sunlocks.