Now, Primrose, take my hand,
and sit quietly in this chair. I am going to confess something to you.
I called to see you and your sisters yesterday morning, intending to
patronize you."
"To patronize us--why?" asked Primrose.
Mrs. Ellsworthy laughed in a slightly nervous manner.
"My dear child, we won't go into the whys and the wherefores. I found
I could not do it, that is all. I have not, however, half finished my
confession. I called to see you because Miss Martineau asked me to."
Here Primrose flushed a very rosy pink, and Mrs. Ellsworthy saw a
displeased look fill her eyes.
"You must not be angry with Miss Martineau, Primrose. She loves you
three girls very much. She is most anxious about you. She--my dear,
she told me of your poverty."
Here Primrose rose from her seat and said, in the quietest tone--
"We are certainly poor, but I don't think that is anybody's concern.
We don't mind it ourselves--at least, not much. You see, we have never
known riches, and we cannot miss what we have never had. It would be a
great pity for people to try to make us discontented. I think it was
ill-bred of Miss Martineau to mention our private affairs to you; but
still, as we have got to know you through these means, I forgive her.
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