You are our guardian.

We can't help that, I suppose.

Father asked you to be that, for some reason; but did he ask you to _live_ here where you are not wanted?
To shame us before our friends, ladies and gentlemen so far above you in every way?
And to try to poison our minds against them and sneer at them when they are kind to us and even try to be kind to you?
No, he did not! Oh, I'm sick of it all! your deceit and your hypocritical speeches and your pretended love for us.

_Love_! Oh, if I could say something that would make you understand how thoroughly we despise you, and how your presence, ever since you forced it upon Steve and me, has disgraced us! If I only could! I--I--" She had been near to tears ever since Mrs.Corcoran Dunn, in the kindness of her heart, told her the "truth" that afternoon.

But pride and indignation had prevented her giving way.