"Am I to hear of nothing but this woman?
Is she to confront me at every turn?
I will endure it no longer." "But it was your wish, papa." "Then I will tell you now what my second and wiser wish is, and we shall see if you will obey it as you have the first." "Of course we will, papa." "Then my wish is, that you should forget these odious notions which you have imbibed, that you should dress and act as you used to do, before ever you saw this woman, and that, in future, you confine your intercourse with her to such civilities as are necessary between neighbors." "We are to give up Mrs.Westmacott ?" "Or give up me." "Oh, dear dad, how can you say anything so cruel ?" cried Ida, burrowing her towsy golden hair into her father's shirt front, while Clara pressed her cheek against his whisker.

"Of course we shall give her up, if you prefer it." "Of course we shall, papa." The Doctor patted the two caressing heads.

"These are my own two girls again," he cried.

"It has been my fault as much as yours.

I have been astray, and you have followed me in my error.