Mr.Buxton did not attend to it, but Maggie heard it.

She got up, and stood quite calm before Mr.Buxton.
"You must go," said she.

"I know you; and I know you are not aware of the cruel way in which you have spoken to me, while asking me to give up the very hope and marrow of my life"-- she could not go on for a moment; she was choked up with anguish.
"It was the truth, Maggie," said he, somewhat abashed.
"It was the truth that made the cruelty of it.

But you did not mean to speak cruelly to me, I know.

Only it is hard all at once to be called upon to face the shame and blasted character of one who was once an innocent child at the same father's knee." "I may have spoken too plainly," said Mr.Buxton, "but it was necessary to set the plain truth before you, for my son's sake.