mpossible! You know how I adore you!
You are my life! I cannot give you up to this strange girl. Besides,
dear Harry, you have taught me to rely upon you, to trust to you, in
all my cares and troubles. You have been my right hand, ever since you
were a little lad. You have enabled Rose to take her proper place in
society. Without you, everything must go to destruction."

"Dear mother, I do not see any reason for such calamity. You give me
too much credit."

"I do not give you enough. Look at your father. He is wonderfully
clever, but has he ever been of any use in business? You have had
everything to attend to. If I had had the remotest idea you would
marry, I should never have permitted the building of this house. We
have sunk a deal of money in it. Without your income, we shall be
quite unable to keep it up. Then just imagine how we shall be laughed
at by the Giffords and all our set! It makes me shivering sick."

"You knew, mother, that I would be likely to marry sometime."

"Oh, yes! but not just at this time. You could not have chosen a more
cruel time. How am I to manage with two houses on my hands, and no one
to help me? Then, there is your little sister Rose! I hoped to give
her a fair chance this season, to let her entertain, to let her
realize her ideas in dress. She has been promised these pleasures; how
can I tell her you are going to leave us to fight the world alone! You
know, Harry--yes, you do know--that Rose gets a great many
invitations for your sake. If your engagement becomes known--and such
things sift through the air--farewell to the Lennox dinners and
dances! farewell to the Manns, and the Storeys, and the Wolseys, and a
great many others! In fact, there is no use in opening the New York
house at all. We had better stay here. Thank goodness! we can make
your father's book the excuse."

Mrs. Filmer's eyes were brim full of tears, but she bravely held them
back; and this bit of self-restraint touched Harry far more than if
she had flown to pieces in hysteria. He looked much troubled, and
sitting down at her side, he took her hand and said:

"Do you think I will desert you if I marry, mother? You have been the
best half of my life. I could not live without you."

"You think so, Harry. But I know better. When a man gets a wife, he
leaves father and mother for her. But do not leave me just yet, Harry!
Do not leave me, dear boy, while I have so much to do, and to worry
about! If I deserve any lo