"Margaret, I am a poor coward after all. I cannot bear to give pain. I know so well your mother's married life has not been all she hoped--all she had a right to expect--and this will be such a blow to her, that I have never had the heart, the power to tell her. She must be told though, now," said he, looking wistfully at his daughter. Margaret was almost overpowered with the idea that her mother knew nothing of it all, and yet the affair was so far advanced!
"Yes, indeed she must," said Margaret. "Perhaps, after all, she may not--Oh yes! she will, she must be shocked"--as the force of the blow returned upon herself in trying to realise how another would take it. "Where are we to go to?" said she at last, struck with a fresh wonder as to their future plans, if plans indeed her father had.

'Margaret, I am a poor coward after all. I cannot bear to give pain. I know your mother's married life has not been all she hoped - and this will be such a blow to her, that I have not had the heart to tell her. She must be told though, now,' said he, looking wistfully at his daughter.
Margaret was almost overpowered with the idea that her mother knew nothing of it.
'Yes, indeed she must. She will be shocked - where are we to go?' said she, struck with fresh wonder as to their future plans.
