then she should have kept to her own station in life father said and not have given them any hold to talk about her and then they couldn t have done it couldn t have done it my dear retorted mr couldn t the personal history and experience have done it is that your knowledge of life what is there that any woman couldn t do that she shouldn t do � especially on the subject of another woman s good looks i really thought it was all over with mr after he had uttered this he to that extent and his breath all his attempts to recover it with that obstinacy that i fully expected to see his head go down behind the counter and his little black breeches with the rusty little of ribbons at the knees come quivering up in a last ineffectual struggle at length however he got better though he still panted hard and was so exhausted that he was obliged to sit on the stool of the shop desk you see he said wiping his head and breathing with difficulty she hasn t taken much to any companions here she hasn t taken kindly to any particular acquaintances and friends not to mention in consequence an ill natured story got about that em ly wanted to be a lady now my opinion is that it came into circulation principally on account of her sometimes saying at the school that if she was a lady she would like to do so and so for her uncle � don t you see � and buy him such and such fine things i assure you mr she has said so to me i returned eagerly when we were both children mr nodded his head and rubbed his chin just so then out of a very little she could dress herself you see better than most others could out of a deal and that made things unpleasant moreover she was rather what might be called � i l go so far as to say what i should call myself said mr � didn t know her own mind quite � a little spoiled � and couldn t at first exactly bind herself down no more than that was ever said against her no father said mrs that s the worst i believe so when she got a situation said mr to keep a old lady company they didn t very well agree and she didn t stop at last she came here for three years nearly two of em are over and she has been as good a girl as ever was worth any six is she worth any six now yes father replied never say i from her very good said mr that s right and so young gentleman he added after a few moments further rubbing of his chin that you may not consider me long as well as short breathed i believe that s all about it as they had spoken in a subdued tone while speaking of em ly i had no doubt that she was near on my asking now if that were not so mr nodded yes and nodded towards the door of the parlor my hurried inquiry if i might peep in was answered with a free permission and looking through the glass i saw her sitting at her work i saw her a most beautiful little creature with the blue eyes that had looked into my childish heart turned upon another child of s who was playing near her with enough of in her bright face to justify what i had heard with much of the old capricious lurking in it but with nothing in her pretty looks i am sure but what was meant for goodness and for happiness and what was on a good and happy course f of david the tune across the yard that seemed as if it never had left off � alas it was the tune that never does leave off � was beating softly all the while wouldn t you like to step in said mr and speak to her walk in and speak to her sir make yourself at home i was too to do so then � i was afraid of her and i was no less afraid of myself but i informed myself of the hour at which she left of an evening in order that our visit might be timed accordingly and taking leave of mr and his pretty daughter and her little children went away to my dear old s here she was in the kitchen cooking dinner the moment i knocked at the door she opened it and asked me what i pleased to want i looked at her with a smile but she gave me no smile in return i had never ceased to write to her but it must have been seven years since we had met is mr at home ma am i said to speak roughly to her he s at home sir returned but he s bad with the don t he go over to now i asked when he s well he do she answered do you ever go there mrs she looked at me more attentively and i noticed a quick movement of her hands towards each other because i want to ask a question about a house there that they call the � what is it � the said i she took a step backward and put out her hands in an frightened way as if to keep me off i cried to her she cried my darling boy and we both burst into tears and were locked in one another s arms what she committed what laughing and crying over me what pride she showed what joy what sorrow that she whose pride and joy i might have been could never hold me in a fond embrace i 