Neither was it necessary that she should, for Mrs. Bartow and Jessie were satisfied with what she could remember, and nothing doubting that Charlotte Gregory was now the exceedingly aristocratic and purse-proud Mrs. Reeves, whose granddaughter was a kind of rival to Jessie, they returned to the parlor, Mrs. Bartow repeating at intervals: "A tin peddler and a factory girl, and she holding her head so high." "She’s none the worse for that, if she’d behave herself, and not put on such airs," said Jessie. "I wouldn’t wonder if some of my ancestors were tinkers or chimney sweeps. I mean to ask Aunt Debby. Let’s see. Your name wasn’t really Martha Stanwood, was it? Weren’t you an adopted child?" "Jessie!" and in the startled lady’s voice there was such unmitigated alarm and distress that Jessie turned quickly to look at her. "Do let that old crone alone. If there’s anything I hate it’s a person that knows everybody’s history, they are so disagreeable, and make one so uncomfortable, though I’m glad to be sure, that I’ve found out who Mrs. Reeves was. Just to think how she talks about high birth and all that,—born in a garret, I dare say." "She don’t put on a bit more than you do," said the saucy Jessie, thinking to herself that she would some time quiz Aunt Debby concerning her grandmother’s past. That night, after Jessie had retired, Mrs. Bartow asked for a few moments’ conversation with Walter, to whom she had scarcely spoken the entire evening Quick to detect a slight, he assumed his haughtiest bearing, and rather overawed the old lady, who fidgetted in her chair, and pulled at her cap, and then began: "It is very unpleasant for me to say to you what I must, but duty to Miss Graham, and justice to you, demands that I should speak. From things which I have heard and seen, I infer that you,—or rather I’m afraid that you,—in short, it’s just possible you are thinking too much of Miss Graham," and having gotten thus far, the old lady gave a sigh of relief, while the young man, with a proud inclination of the head, said coolly: "And what then?" This roused her, and muttering to herself, "Such impudence!" she continued: "I should suppose your own sense would tell you what then! Of course nothing can ever come of it, for even were you her equal in rank and wealth, you must know there is a stain upon your name which must never be imparted to the Grahams." "Madam," said Walter, "you will please confine your remarks to me personally, and say nothing of my father." "Well, then," returned the lady. "You, personally, are not a fit husband for Jessie." "Have I ever asked to be her husband?" he said. "Not in words, perhaps, but you show it in your manner both to me and others, and this is what brought me here. Jessie is young and easily influenced, and might possibly, in an unguarded moment, do as foolish a thing as your mother did."