"Nor can I--except the one. I suppose you know yourself what you mean to do about your cousin. Everybody knows what you ought to do after the disgraceful things that have been put into all the newspapers." "That has not been Margaret's fault." "I am by no means so sure of that. Indeed, I think it has been her fault; and now she has made herself notorious by being at this bazaar, and by having herself called a ridiculous name by everybody. Nothing will make me believe but what she likes it." "You are ready to believe any evil of her, mother; and yet it is not two years since you yourself wished me to marry her." "Things are very different since that; very different indeed. And I did not know her then as I do now, or I should never have thought of such a thing, let her have had all the money in the world. She had not misbehaved herself then with that horrible curate." "She has not misbehaved herself now," said the son, in an angry voice. "Yes, she has, John," said the mother, in a voice still more angry. "That's a matter for me to judge. She has not misbehaved herself in my eyes. It is a great misfortune,--a great misfortune for us both,--the conduct of this man; but I won't allow it to be said that it was her fault." "Very well. Then I suppose I may arrange to go. I did not think, John, that I should be turned out of your father's house so soon after your father's death. I did not indeed." Thereupon Lady Ball got out her handkerchief, and her son perceived that real tears were running down her face. "Nobody has ever spoken of your going except yourself, mother." "I won't live in the house with her." "And what would you have me do? Would you wish me to let her go her way and starve by herself?" "No, John; certainly not. I think you should see that she wants for nothing. She could live with her sister-in-law, and have the interest of the money that the Rubbs took from her. It was your money." "I have explained to you over and over again, mother, that that has already been made over to Mrs Tom Mackenzie; and that would not have been at all sufficient. Indeed, I have altogether made up my mind upon that. When the lawyers and all the expenses are paid, there will still be about eight hundred a year. I shall share it with her." "John!" "That is my intention; and therefore if I were to marry her I should get an additional income of four hundred a year for myself and my children." "You don't mean it, John?" "Indeed I do, mother. I'm sure the world would expect me to do as much as that." "The world expect you! And are you to rob your children, John, because the world expects it? I never heard of such a thing. Give away four hundred a year merely because you are afraid of those wretched newspapers! I did expect you would have more courage." "If I do not do one, mother, I shall do the other certainly."