Anyhow , DO try and keep the house a little tidy . The way people talks about it is scandalous . And the first thing you know your father will be getting married again and then your noses will be out of joint . '' Una was startled . The idea of her father marrying again had never presented itself to her before . She did not like it and she lay silent under the chill of it . `` Stepmothers are AWFUL creatures , '' Mary went on . `` I could make your blood run cold if I was to tell you all I know about 'em . The Wilson kids across the road from Wiley 's had a stepmother . She was just as bad to 'em as Mrs. Wiley was to me . It 'll be awful if you get a stepmother . '' `` I 'm sure we wo n't , '' said Una tremulously . `` Father wo n't marry anybody else . '' `` He 'll be hounded into it , I expect , '' said Mary darkly . `` All the old maids in the settlement are after him . There 's no being up to them . And the worst of stepmothers is , they always set your father against you . He 'd never care anything about you again . He 'd always take her part and her children 's part . You see , she 'd make him believe you were all bad . ''
`` I wish you had n't told me this , Mary , '' cried XXXXX .
Father Mary Una Wiley Wilson children creatures first house settlement