'Never mind, my darling, never mind; for once it may be a little awkward, but, after all, what do we care?'
Very commonplace, to be sure, but it was all she could say.
'Everybody knows that the wedding day was fixed. Then, you know, I had to explain why it was put off to Ellen Stanley and Julia Petit, for they were to be my bridesmaids. This morning I met Ellen, and she asked me when it was to be, and I told her Hi—Mr. Meeker had not yet returned. She declared she saw him on the corner of Bond street and Broadway day before yesterday morning. She said she could not be mistaken. I told her she was mistaken. Now I dare say she did see him. What shall I do? Everybody will have the story, and how they will laugh at me!'
'We will see about that, we will see,' said Mrs. Tenant.
The fact is, she did not know exactly what to reply.
'I shall be ashamed to show myself in the street.'
'Nonsense, my darling.'
Kissing her daughter cheerfully, Mrs. Tenant went down stairs to meet her husband, whom she heard at the door.
The moment her mother left, Emma's heart sank, and she began to cry.
Mrs. Tenant was not long in putting her husband in possession of the situation of things. He was astonished, of course. He asked a great many questions, and at last seemed to comprehend how matters stood. He appeared to be very deeply affected, though he said but little. He did not speak on the subject to Emma, but soon after dinner took his hat and walked out.