"Forgotten and forgiven," whispered Mr. Tom.
"How generous of you! you make me so glad! because now that your brother Charles is going to marry my daughter, we shall be in some sort related, and I could not bear you to think unkindly of me."
"No," said Mr. Tom, fidgeting a little, "I shall never do that."
"How droll!" said the widow. "Let me see, what will the relationship be? You will be my son-in-law's brother, and consequently I shall be your mother-in-law once removed. You will have a mother younger than yourself, Mr. Tom. I hope you will not presume upon her youth to be a bad boy."
"All this is very true," he answered; "but I see the relationship in a far different light. I shall be your father-in-law, and consequently my own brother's grandfather-in-law."
"You mistake, Mr. Tom. Don't you see that Carry—"
"No mistake at all about it, ma'am, for I've promised to marry your mother, Mrs. Marrables!"
"Monster!" cried Mrs. Wimbush aloud, and went off shrieking.
The music stopped, and there was a great fuss. But above all the others was heard the voice of Mrs. Marrables. "Don't be alarmed, pray. She is subject to it; she went off just like that the other day at a picnic. Poor young thing, a very little upsets her. Let me come to my little gu-url, then."
They moved her into another room. Presently Mrs. Wimbush opened her eyes. "Mother! how dare you come near me! Go away, do! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, at your time of life!"