"I mean letting poor Miss Gertrude be married to such a man as Master George." "What am I to do, Denton?" "I don't know, ma'am. I've been down upon my bended knees to her, but she turns away. She don't like him--that's the wonder of it--and yet she will have him." "Yes, Denton; that's the wonder of it. She's little and weak, and yet she's stronger than all of us put together with poor old Mr Harrington's wishes at her back." "But you, ma'am--she believes in and likes you. Many a time she's come to me, years ago, and told me how you've scolded and found fault with her about her manners, and when I've said you were very cantankerous--" "Oh, you said that of me, did you, Denton?" "Yes, ma'am, to speak the truth, I have said so; but she always spoke up for you, and said you talked to her like a mother." "Yes, Denton; I tried to." "Then," cried the old woman fiercely, "why don't you talk to her like a mother now, and save the poor child from such a terrible fate." "You think it will be a terrible fate, Denton?" "Do you believe in young men who can't keep from the drink now, and who make the poor old house smell of whiskey from top to bottom, mending because they've got pretty young wives?" "I want to be charitable, Denton." "Then prove it, ma'am, by saving my poor dear young lady from being the wife of a sot." "Is anything the matter, Mrs Hampton?" said Gertrude. "No, my dear, only that wicked, idle man is so fast asleep that we cannot wake him." "Never mind," said the old lawyer, who had followed Gertrude out into the hall. "Better let him have his sleep out. Come, my dear, and have pity on me." "Yes, Mr Hampton, we will not wait any longer. Denton, pray see that some fresh breakfast is ready on a tray, to bring up directly your master comes down." "Yes, miss, I will," said the old woman; and then in an undertone to Mrs Hampton, as the old lawyer said something to Gertrude: "Do, do, pray, ma'am, try and stop it. I'd sooner help to lay the poor dear out for her last sleep than help to dress her to go to church with Master George." Mrs Hampton went down the flight of stairs to the breakfast-table, looking exceedingly comic. Hers was a peculiar face at the best of times; and now it was at its worst, for her spirit was greatly troubled on Gertrude's behalf, and she was trying to smile and look cheerful. Her husband saw it and made matters worse. "Gertrude, my dear," he said in a whisper his wife could hear, "for goodness' sake give her a cup of tea; she's bubbling over with acidity." "No, I am not, Hampton, and don't be absurd." "Certainly not, my dear. Excuse me, Miss Gertie, may I begin?" He was already placing a slice of ham upon his plate with a delicately cooked egg reposing in its midst, but he recollected himself and passed it across to his wife. "Thanks, no," she said with quite a hoarse croak. "Dry toast."