Mayhew. "From what you say, Sibley is bad enough,
and Ida seems reckless enough to do anything. I wish we had never
come here."
"So do I," groaned Stanton. "No, I don't, either. In fact I'm in
a devil of a mess myself. You know it, and I suppose all see it.
I can't help it if they do. My passion, no doubt, is vain, but
it's to my credit. Ida's is disgraceful to herself and to us all.
If I'd been here alone and Van Berg had not come, I might have
succeeded; but NOW"--and with a despairing gesture he turned away.
"Ik, come back," cried his aunt, "of course I feel for you. You
are independent, and can marry whom you please, though heaven knows
you could do better than---"
"Heaven knows nothing of the kind," he interrupted, irritably, "and
if you were nearer heaven--but there, what's the use."
"You're right now, Ik. We can't afford to quarrel. You must
talk to Ida. We must watch her. Find out if you can what is in
her mind, and if the worst comes to the worst, they will have to
be married. I suppose it will be wise to hint to her that if she
WILL marry Sibley she had better do it in as respectable and quiet
a way as possible."
"The idea of anything being respectable and quiet where they are
concerned!" snarled Stanton.
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