He said you mustn't wait much
longer, didn't he?'
'Yes, he did. But he'd rather see me doing what's right. I often
feel myself such a poor thing by him. I must try and show him that I
do my best to follow his example. I'm ashamed almost, sometimes, to
think I shall be his wife. It ought to be some one better than me.'
'Where would he find any one better, I'd like to know? Let him come
and ask me about that! There's no man good enough for you, sister
Emmy.'
Richard was talking with his sister Alice; the others had gone to
bed, and the house was quiet.
'I wasn't at all pleased to see that man here to-night,' he said.
'You shouldn't have been so ready to say yes when he asked you to go
to the theatre. It was like his impudence!'
'Why, what ever's the harm, Dick? Besides, we must have some
friends, and--really he looks a gentleman.'
I'll tell you a secret,' returned her brother, with a half-smile,
half-sneer. 'You don't know a gentleman yet, and you'll have to be
very careful till you do.'
'How am I to learn, then?'
'Just wait. You've got enough to do with your music and your
reading. Time enough for getting acquainted with gentlemen.'
'Aren't you going to let anybody come and see us, then?'
'You have the old friends,' replied Richard, raising his chin.
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