Harriet, with a cool cynicism which took the simple Joseph completely out of his depth.
"Well, it's a queer world, I must say."
"It is," his sister-in-law agreed.
At that moment, Eliza came into the room. The visit of Harriet was so unexpected as to take her by surprise. But the cause of it was soon disclosed. Harriet was troubled about Mary. Ever since the girl, against the wishes and advice of her friends, had taken what they felt to be a fatal step, there had been a gradual drifting apart. Harriet had kept in touch with her as well as she could, but she had not been able to stifle her own private fears. The peril of such a career, even when crowned by success, was in her opinion, difficult to exaggerate. She disapproved of the friendship with the Wren's, and had strongly opposed Mary's living with them. But as the girl rose in her profession, Harriet's hold upon her grew still less. And now at second and third hand had come news which had greatly upset her.
With the tact for which she was famous, Harriet did not speak of this in the presence of Joe. She accompanied Eliza to the privacy of the best bedroom, ostensibly to "take off her things," but really to discuss a matter which for the past week had filled her with misgiving.
In the meantime, Joe in the parlor set himself doggedly to compass the nap that so far had been denied him. In spite of the noises in the street and romantic appearance of a real live member of the Family in his humble abode, he had just begun to doze when the ban of Fate fell once more upon him.
