"Well, well, one never knows! And think how much better it would be for the children. Edith is too young to have so much care, and they say Cynthia runs wild most of the time, just like a boy. Indeed, I call it a very good thing. Though I must say she is a pretty brave woman to take on herself the care of that family."
Here "Miss Betsey" suddenly darted for the door. It could be endured no longer. Mrs. Parker bade her farewell, and then went back to tell her daughters that Miss Trinkett was sadly changed. Though she was still so young in appearance, she was evidently very much broken.
For some time Jack could obtain no reply to his questions, but at last Cynthia's resolution broke down, and she burst into tears. They had turned into a shady lane instead of going directly home, and there was no danger of meeting any one.
"Jack, Jack!" she moaned, "I'll have to tell you. Mrs. Parker says papa is going to be married again! What shall we do! What shall we do!"
For answer Jack indulged in a prolonged whistle.
"Isn't it the most dreadful thing you ever heard of? Jack, how shall we ever endure it?"
"Well, it mayn't be as bad as you think. If she's nice—"
"Oh, Jack, she won't be! Stepmothers are never nice. I never in my life heard of one that was. She'll be horrid to us all."
"Oh, I say, that's nonsense. If you were to marry a widower with a lot of children you'd be nice to them."
"Jack, the very idea! I marry a widower with a lot of children! I'd like to see myself doing such a thing!"