`` Una Meredith ! Do you think I would do such a thing ? Whatever put such an idea into your head ? '' `` Mary Vance said stepmothers were all like that -- and that they all hated their stepchildren and made their father hate them -- she said they just could n't help it -- just being stepmothers made them like that '' -- `` You poor child ! And yet you came up here and asked me to marry your father because you wanted to make him happy ? You 're a darling -- a heroine -- as Ellen would say , you 're a brick . Now listen to me , very closely , dearest . Mary Vance is a silly little girl who does n't know very much and she is dreadfully mistaken about some things . I would never dream of trying to turn your father against you . I would love you all dearly . I do n't want to take your own mother 's place -- she must always have that in your hearts . But neither have I any intention of being a stepmother . I want to be your friend and helper and CHUM . Do n't you think that would be nice , Una -- if you and Faith and Carl and Jerry could just think of me as a good jolly chum -- a big older sister ? '' `` Oh , it would be lovely , '' cried Una , with a transfigured face . She flung her arms impulsively round Rosemary 's neck . She was so happy that she felt as if she could fly on wings . `` Do the others -- do Faith and the boys have the same idea you had about stepmothers ? '' `` No . Faith never believed Mary Vance .
I was dreadfully foolish XXXXX believe her , either .
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