"Margaret Naylor! Am I to believe my ears? Do you mean to say you have let that Hillyard girl cut you out?... You grown-up baby! When I was your age, no girl should have done that to me--whether I wanted the man or not. It's a disgrace to your womanhood, and your upbringing--that means me--and your looks, and your spirit--if you had any; but you have none, or you would not have allowed it. The way that man stuck to you yesterday, and trotted away with you on that blessed island!... And you to let another woman cut in and take him away from you!... And people call you a clever girl! Hm!" "But what was I to do, mother? I could not go in for him myself. I could not make him propose to me." "Why not, pray? Is he not good enough for you? What do you expect? Is it a President of the United States you hope to captivate?" "I do not understand. He could not have been persuaded to do anything so dreadful. And you, I am sure, whatever the surprise of this may have stupefied you into saying, you would not have me want to be my own aunt?" "What do you mean? Whom are you talking about?" "Uncle Joseph, to be sure. Whom else?" "Joseph? You must be dreaming." "I really think, however, he has proposed to Rose Hillyard, and been accepted." "Impossible! Joseph marry! I never heard anything so preposterous." "Nevertheless, you will see now. I am sure he is in love I do not think he spoke twice to me all the time we were upon the island--only to Rose, and once or twice, when it was necessary, to Wa--W--to Mr Wilkie, I ought to say." Margaret started and grew pale as she spoke, but her mother was too intent upon the idea of Joseph's entanglement to observe the stumble.