"And what do you intend to do with him, child?"
"Bring him up to despise the sin of which his father was guilty," replied Rose, boldly.
"Oh yes, that's all very proper; but if you give him to me, there will be no occasion ever to mention it at all, or _you either_, child."
"Madame," said Rose, with a proud dignity. "Is it a mother who speaks to a mother such words as these? You love _your_ son none the less that he made _my_ name a reproach and a by-word, crimsoned my innocent cheek with shame, dimmed my eyes with unavailing tears. Shall I, think you, love _my_ son the less that _your son_ deserted him? Shall I love my son the less that through days and nights of tearful anguish his smile, his love, was all of heaven I ever dared to look for?"
"Oh, certainly not--oh, of course not," replied the old lady, nervously; "but you know he may not _always_ love you as well as he does now, when he knows--"
"In God I put my trust;" said Rose, as tears streamed from her eyes.
"Well, don't cry, child--don't cry. I hate to see people cry. All I wanted to say was, that you would always be a drag on him, if he tried to rise in the world; but don't cry. It is right for you to trust in God, every body ought to be pious, it is so respectable. I have been confirmed myself; but don't cry, it will spoil your handsome eyes. You are young yet, perhaps somebody may marry you, if you keep quiet about this."
"I would never so deceive any man," answered Rose, with dignity.
"_Deceive!_ oh, no, child, that would be _very_ wrong. I only meant that you should say nothing about it; that is a different thing, you see. Now I loved a Mr. Perry much better than I did my husband, but it would have been quite foolish had I allowed it to be known, you know, because Vincent was very rich, and it was necessary I should have a handsome establishment. Oh, no! of course I do not approve of deception, that is very wrong, but there _are_ cases where it is best for a woman to keep quiet. Well, how about Charley? have you quite decided not to part with him?"
"Quite," said Rose, "Charley must remain with me;" and, with a dignified air, she bowed madame to her carriage.
"A regular little romance, I declare," said madame, laying off her black bonnet, and fanning herself languidly, "quite a little romance.