`` How do you know ? '' she asked . `` Oh , everybody 's saying it . I heard Mrs. Elliott talking it over with Mrs. Doctor . They thought I was too far away to hear , but I 've got ears like a cat 's . Mrs. Elliott said she had n't a doubt that Rosemary was afraid to try stepmothering you because you 'd got such a reputation . Your pa never goes up the hill now . Neither does Norman Douglas . Folks say Ellen has jilted him just to get square with him for jilting her ages ago . But Norman is going about declaring he 'll get her yet . And I think you ought to know you 've spoiled your pa 's match and I think it 's a pity , for he 's bound to marry somebody before long , and Rosemary West would have been the best wife I know of for him . '' `` You told me all stepmothers were cruel and wicked , '' said Una . `` Oh -- well , '' said Mary rather confusedly , `` they 're mostly awful cranky , I know . But Rosemary West could n't be very mean to any one . I tell you if your pa turns round and marries Emmeline Drew you 'll wish you 'd behaved yourselves better and not frightened Rosemary out of it . It 's awful that you 've got such a reputation that no decent woman 'll marry your pa on account of you . Of course , I know that half the yarns that are told about you ai n't true . But give a dog a bad name . Why , some folks are saying that it was Jerry and Carl that threw the stones through Mrs. Stimson 's window the other night when it was really them two Boyd boys . But I 'm afraid it was Carl that put the eel in old Mrs. Carr 's buggy , though I said at first I would n't believe it until I 'd better proof than old Kitty Alec 's word .
I told Mrs. Elliott so right XXXXX her face . ''
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