"Is it not a hard life for her?"
"Very, but she prefers obscurity; and that is the best employment she can get here. She is a fine woman, independent and brave, owing no one any thing and taking care of herself. She had a lover once, they say," continued Miss Selina, dropping her voice; "but when it all came to light about her father's transactions, of course she released him."
"And he accepted it?"
"Why, certainly he did, dear Margaret; no man would wish to marry a woman with such a father."
Margaret drummed with her foot on the fender, but made no reply.
"I like Martha Burney's company, and I try to make her come here often; but it is hard to induce her to leave her father. She says she has to be away from him so much of each day, that it is not right to let him pass any more time alone."
"Well, I suppose she would not object to my going to see her."
"She would be delighted to see you. She has all her evenings, and Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. She is very fond of young people."
The Sealing callers do not demand a particular description. There were a few young ladies, none of whom Margaret much liked; she thought them assuming and silly. One of them crowned her other offences by replying to a question of Margaret's about Miss Burney, "Oh! yes, very estimable person, I believe; I do not know her. Were you aware that she teaches in the public school?"