"Don't fret so, mother," said Mattie, again putting her arms around her
mother's neck, and kissing her. "I will be a real good, obedient girl,
and do anything you bid me. But then--" Here Mattie paused for a moment,
and looked roguishly up into her mother's face.

"But then--what?"

"Well, I don't think we shall agree about Mr. Gusher. The truth is,
mother--I don't know why--but then I don't think I ever can love him.
But then, you know, mother, I have not seen him yet; and you would'nt
have me love a man before I saw him?"

"Perhaps not, my daughter; but I would have you look up, remember your
quality, and consider what you may be. If you condescend to look down on
that sailor-boy, there's no hope of the family ever moving in the upper
circles. But he'll never come back. That ship'll go to the bottom as
sure as the world. Something tells me she will go down, and I know she
will."

At this Mattie's eyes filled with tears, and she buried her face in her
hands and gave vent to her emotions in sobs. "Mother, mother," she
rejoined, after a short pause, "how cruel of you to say so, even if you
thought so. He was so manly, and so kind to me."

At this Mrs. Chapman rose from her chair with an air of injured dignity,
and walked in silence up and down the room for several minutes. Then she
heaved a sigh, extended her hand, and resumed: "Your tears, my daughter,
are what tear down my pride. No use, I see; my advice is all thrown
away--all thrown away! Oh, what a thing it is to have a daughter, and
yet not have a daughter. I mean to have a daughter that will have her