"She's a mother herself, I was thinking, and if one of her own girls was in the same position...."
"The idea!" said Isabella.
"Mrs. Collister," said Mrs. Gell, with a proud lift of her head, "I was sorry when I heard of the trouble your daughter had brought on you, but what you are doing now is a piece of great assurance."
"But Bessie is a good girl, ma'am. And if she married your son you would never have raison to be ashamed of her."
"Good indeed! If a girl isn't ashamed to be living with a young man the less said about her goodness the better."
"Aw well, ma'am," said Mrs. Collister (her faltering tongue had become firmer and her timid eyes had begun to flash), "if she's living with the young man, he's living with her, and the shame is the same for both, I'm thinking."
Mrs. Gell drew herself up in her chair.
"I'm astonished at you, Mrs. Collister! A woman yourself, and not seeing the difference."
"Aw yes, difference enough, ma'am! And when a young man doesn't keep his word it's the woman that's knowing it best by the trouble that's coming on her."
Mrs. Gell, whose anger was rising, lifted her chin again and said, "If your daughter is in trouble, Mrs. Collister, how are we to know that she had not brought it on her own head, just to get Alick to marry her?"