Indeed, ma'am, it is impossible.

Mr.Morton is so very respectable, and his neighbours pay so much attention to all he does; and then, if we have an election in the autumn, you see, ma'am, he has a great stake in the place, and is a public character." "That's neither here nor there," said Mr.Morton.

"But I say, Catherine, can your little boy go into the other room for a moment?
Margaret, suppose you take him and make friends." Delighted to throw on her husband the burden of explanation, which she had originally meant to have all the importance of giving herself in her most proper and patronising manner, Mrs.Morton twisted her fingers into the boy's hand, and, opening the door that communicated with the bedroom, left the brother and sister alone.

And then Mr.Morton, with more tact and delicacy than might have been expected from him, began to soften to Catherine the hard ship of the separation he urged.

He dwelt principally on what was best for the child.