"What do you mean?" asked Faith.

"Haven't you got any idea--honest?" demanded Mary.

"No, no. What DO you mean?"

"Well, you are a lot of innocents, upon my word. Why, EVERYbody
is talking of it. Your pa goes to see Rosemary West. SHE is
going to be your step-ma."

"I don't believe it," cried Una, flushing crimson.

"Well, _I_ dunno. I just go by what folks say. _I_ don't give
it for a fact. But it would be a good thing. Rosemary West'd
make you toe the mark if she came here, I'll bet a cent, for all
she's so sweet and smiley on the face of her. They're always
that way till they've caught them. But you need some one to
bring you up. You're disgracing your pa and I feel for him.
I've always thought an awful lot of your pa ever since that night
he talked to me so nice. I've never said a single swear word
since, or told a lie. And I'd like to see him happy and
comfortable, with his buttons on and his meals decent, and you
young ones licked into shape, and that old cat of a Martha put in
HER proper place. The way she looked at the eggs I brought her
to-night. 'I hope they're fresh,' says she. I just wished they
WAS rotten. But you just mind that she gives you all one for
breakfast, including your pa. Make a fuss if she doesn't. That
was what they was sent up for--but I don't trust old Martha.
She's quite capable of feeding 'em to her cat."