"What is there against it?"

"Nothing that I know."

"What is there against my uncle? Is there anything against Martha Moon?"
I was indignant at the idea of a whisper against either.

"What have _I_ done?" I went on. "We are all of the family I know: what
is it?"

"I don't think she has had time to invent anything yet; but she pretends
there is something, and says if I don't give you up, if I don't swear
never to look at you again, she will tell it."

"What did you answer her?"

"I said no power on earth should make me give you up. Whatever she knew,
she could know nothing against _you_, and I was as ready to go to my
grave as she was. 'Mother,' I said, 'you may tell my determination by
your own! Whether I marry her or not, you and I part company the day I
come of age; and if you speak word or do deed against one of her family,
my lawyer shall look strictly into your accounts as my guardian.' You see
I knew where to touch her!"

"It is dreadful you should have to speak like that to your mother!"

"It is; but you would feel to her just as I do if you knew all--though
you wouldn't speak so roughly, I know."

"Can you guess what she has in her mind?"