`` Yes . I 've been thinking it over for some time . I have often thought of adopting a child , since my husband 's death . But it seemed so hard to get a suitable one . It is very few children I would want to take into MY home . I would n't think of taking a home child -- some outcast of the slums in all probability . And there is hardly ever any other child to be got . One of the fishermen down at the harbour died last fall and left six youngsters . They tried to get me to take one , but I soon gave them to understand that I had no idea of adopting trash like that . Their grandfather stole a horse . Besides , they were all boys and I wanted a girl -- a quiet , obedient girl that I could train up to be a lady . Una will suit me exactly . She would be a nice little thing if she was properly looked after -- so different from Faith . I would never dream of adopting Faith . But I 'll take Una and I 'll give her a good home , and up-bringing , Mr. Meredith , and if she behaves herself I 'll leave her all my money when I die . Not one of my own relatives shall have a cent of it in any case , I 'm determined on that . It was the idea of aggravating them that set me to thinking of adopting a child as much as anything in the first place . Una shall be well dressed and educated and trained , Mr. Meredith , and I shall give her music and painting lessons and treat her as if she was my own . '' Mr. Meredith was wide enough awake by this time . There was a faint flush in his pale cheek and a dangerous light in his fine dark eyes .
Was this woman , whose vulgarity and consciousness of money oozed out of her at every pore , actually asking him to give her XXXXX -- his dear little wistful Una with Cecilia 's own dark-blue eyes -- the child whom the dying mother had clasped to her heart after the other children had been led weeping from the room .
Meredith Una fall first flush harbour idea left money up-bringing