Her eyes were very beautiful -- her touch so tender that Una found courage . `` I came -- to ask you -- to marry father , '' she gasped . Rosemary was silent for a moment from sheer dumbfounderment . She stared at Una blankly . `` Oh , do n't be angry , please , dear Miss West , '' said Una , pleadingly . `` You see , everybody is saying that you would n't marry father because we are so bad . He is VERY unhappy about it . So I thought I would come and tell you that we are never bad ON PURPOSE . And if you will only marry father we will all try to be good and do just what you tell us . I 'm SURE you wo n't have any trouble with us . PLEASE , Miss West . '' Rosemary had been thinking rapidly . Gossiping surmise , she saw , had put this mistaken idea into Una 's mind . She must be perfectly frank and sincere with the child . `` Una , dear , '' she said softly . `` It is n't because of you poor little souls that I can not be your father 's wife . I never thought of such a thing . You are not bad -- I never supposed you were . There -- there was another reason altogether , Una . '' `` Do n't you like father ? ''
asked XXXXX , lifting reproachful eyes .
Rosemary Una West dumbfounderment everybody eyes idea souls thing wife