I know, of course, it is not true, but I want just to hear you say so, so that I can go out and tell people they lie.
How dare they say such things!" "Why, what do you mean, Edward ?" Mrs.Sankey said, almost frightened at the boy's vehemence.
"Why, they say that you are going to marry that horrible man Mulready.
It is monstrous, isn't it?
I think they ought to be prosecuted and punished for such a wicked thing, and father only a year in his grave." Mrs.Sankey was frightened at Ned's passion.

Ever since the matter had first taken shape in her mind she had felt a certain uneasiness as to what Ned would say of it, and had, since it was decided, been putting off from day to day the telling of the news to him.

She had, in his absence, told herself over and over again that it was no business of his, and that a boy had no right to as much as question the actions of his mother; but somehow when he was present she had always shrank from telling him.

She now took refuge in her usual defense--tears.
"It is shameful," she said, sobbing, as she held her handkerchief to her eyes, "that a boy should speak in this way to his mother; it is downright wicked." "But I am not speaking to you, mother; I am speaking of other people--the people who have invented this horrible lie--for it is a lie, mother, isn't it?
It is not possible it can be true ?" "It is true," Mrs.Sankey said, gaining courage from her anger; "it is quite true.

And you are a wicked and abominable boy to talk in that way to me.