"It's a bad business, I am afraid," she said, mournfully.
"No," said Tom, stoutly, "it's not pleasant, and that's all. The girl may make a very good wife, though she does dress badly. She looks amiable, and I dare say has sense enough."
"It's not her dress only," persisted Emma, "but her manners are so bad."
"Well, many a flirty girl has settled into a very respectable married woman," continued Tom.
"Where have you seen her, Emma?" asked Mrs. Castleton.
"Tom pointed her out to me one night at the theatre; and I have since seen her in the street frequently."
"Then you do not know her at all?" continued Mrs. Castleton, with some surprise in her tone. "How, then, do you know any thing about her manners, Emma?"
"It's not necessary to know her to know what her manners are," replied Emma. "One glance across the theatre is enough for that. She had two or three beaux with her—indeed, I believe she was there only with them—"
"Her mother was with her, Emma," interposed Tom, decidedly.
"Well," continued Emma, a little provoked at being set right, "she ought to have made her behave herself, then."