'O, he's nobody--only the young man I've got to marry some day.'

'What!--you engaged to be married?--Why didn't you tell me this
before?'

'I--I don't know, sir.'

'What is the young man's name?'

'James Hayward.'

'What is he?'

'A master lime-burner.'

'Engaged to a master lime-burner, and not a word of this to me!
Margery, Margery! when shall a straightforward one of your sex be
found! Subtle even in your simplicity! What mischief have you
caused me to do, through not telling me this? I wouldn't have so
endangered anybody's happiness for a thousand pounds. Wicked girl
that you were; why didn't you tell me?'

'I thought I'd better not!' said Margery, beginning to be frightened.

'But don't you see and understand that if you are already the
property of a young man, and he were to find out this night's
excursion, he may be angry with you and part from you for ever? With
him already in the field I had no right to take you at all; he
undoubtedly ought to have taken you; which really might have been
arranged, if you had not deceived me by saying you had nobody.'