"I suppose you only did it for your amusement; I don't suppose you
thought there would be any good in it, that his father or I would allow
Joseph to make such a _fool_ of himself as to throw himself away upon a
girl without any means; but it's all the more shameful. You succeeded
very well; you've turned the poor boy's head and made him miserable.
It's to be hoped that it will stop there, and that he won't be driven
to drink or desperate courses, as some young men are. Of course you'll
say that you never meant anything of the kind. I'm quite prepared for
that--you can be plausible enough when you like; with that quiet,
cat-like manner of yours."
Ida had passed beyond the laughing stage by this time; her face was
pale, her eyes flashing; but she was able to say, with an appearance of
calm: "You are quite right, Mrs. Heron; I have no hesitation in saying that I
did not wish your son to pay me any attention, much less--Oh, do you
not see how ridiculous it is?" she broke out, indignantly, and with a
little desperate laugh. Mrs. Heron's face flamed. "I don't know what
you mean by ridiculous," she snapped. "I should say Joseph was quite
good enough a match for you; and I've no doubt you think so, though you
pretend to sneer at him."
"Let me assure you, Mrs. Heron, that I have never thought of your son
as a possible husband," said Ida. "His attentions to me are more than
unwelcome--and he knows it."
"Oh! then you admit that the poor boy is in love with you, that he has
told you? You see, you can't deceive me; I knew it. I wonder you aren't
ashamed of yourself; at any rate, having caused trouble in the house
that shelters you, that you haven't shame enough to refrain from
flirting, before our very eyes, with the first man that appears."
Ida stared at her in amazement, too great for the moment to permit of
resentment.
"What is this you accuse me of?" she asked. "Oh, pray, pray, do not be
so unreasonable, so unjust!"
Mrs. Heron wagged her head, as one who is not to be deceived by any
affectation of innocence.
"No, thank you, Ida!" she exclaimed. "That won't do for us. We've seen
it with our own eyes, haven't we, Isabel?"
Isabel took out her handkerchief and began to whimper.
"I should never have thought it of you, Ida," she sobbed. "And with
George, too! And I'd only just told you that--that there had been
things between us. I do think you might have left him alone."