And now, Emily, what
have you to say for the management of my affairs? Can you offer any
excuse for your utter failure?'
'Indeed, papa, I am very sorry I vexed you,' said Emily. 'Our
illness last autumn--different things--I know all has not been quite
as it should be; but I hope that in future I shall profit by past
experience.'
'I hope so,' said Mr. Mohun, 'but I am afraid to trust the management
of the family to you any longer. Your trial is over, and you have
failed, merely because you would not exert yourself from wilful
indolence and negligence. You have not attended to any one thing
committed to your charge--you have placed temptation in Esther's way-
-and allowed Ada to take up habits which will not be easily
corrected. I should not think myself justified in leaving you in
charge any longer, lest worse mischief should ensue. I wish you to
give up the keys to Eleanor for the present.'
Mr. Mohun would perhaps have added something if Emily had shown signs
of repentance, or even of sorrow. The moment was at least as painful
to him as to her, and he had prepared himself to expect either
hysterical tears, with vows of amendment, or else an argument on her
side that she was right and everybody else wrong.
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