Her mother laid down her embroidery, and studied her face with a look of aroused uneasiness; but the father was utterly without suspicion of approaching any hidden peril, and continued in the same kindly tones.
"Nay, now, my girl, thou needest not fear!" he said.

"All young maidens give their hearts away in time; and so as thou givest thine worthily, neither thy father nor thy mother will chide." Kate gave one or two gasps, and then spoke with impassioned earnestness.
"O father, I could not help it! I strove against it as long as I might.

I feared it was a thing that must not be.

But love was too strong.

I could not fight for ever." "Tut--tut, child! why shouldest thou fight?
Why didst thou not speak to thy mother?
Girls may breathe a secret into a mother's ear that is not to be spoke elsewhere.