I heard him tease you about it
once when I was a little girl."
It was Madam Bowker's turn to redden. She deigned to smile. "Men
are so foolish," observed she, "that women often have to guide
them. There would be few marriages of the right sort if the men
were not managed."
Margaret nodded assent. "I realize that now," said she. Earnestly:
"Grandmother, try to make the best of this engagement of mine.
When a woman, a woman as experienced and sensible as I am, makes
up her mind a certain man is the man for her, is it wise to
interfere?"
Madam Bowker, struck by the searching wisdom of this remark, was
silenced for the moment. In the interval of thought she reflected
that she would do well to take counsel of herself alone in
proceeding to break this engagement. "You are on the verge of
making a terrible misstep, child," said she with a gentleness she
had rarely shown even to her favorite grandchild. "I shall think
it over, and you will think it over. At least, promise me you will
not see Craig for a few days."
Margaret hesitated. Her grandmother, partly by this unusual
gentleness, partly by inducing the calmer reflection of the second
thought, had shaken her purpose more than she would have believed
possible.
Pages:
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171