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oneand Hannahs little Anna-Maria fell down, and Molly (whos a kind-hearted lass enough) picked her up; so, if Hannah had had her doubts before, she had none then. But there was no one with her, was there? asked one of the ladies anxiously, as Mrs. Goodenough stopped to finish her piece of cake, just at this crisis. No; I said she looked as if she was going to meet some oneand by-and-by comes Mr. Preston running out of the wood just beyond Hannahs, and, says he, A cup of water, please, good woman, for a lady has fainted, or is sterical or something. Now, though he didnt know Hannah, Hannah knew him. More folks know Tom Fool, than Tom Fool knows, asking Mr. Prestons pardon; for hes no fool whatever he be. And I could tell you moreand what Ive seed with my own eyes. I seed her give him a letter in Grinsteads shop, only yesterday; and he looked as black as thunder at her, for he seed me if she didnt. Its a very suitable kind of thing, said Miss Airy; why do they make such a mystery of it? Some folks like it, said Mrs. Dawes; it adds zest to it all, to do their courting underhand. Ay, its like salt to their victual, put in Mrs. Goodenough. But I didnt think Molly Gibson was one of that sort, I didnt. The Gibsons hold themselves very high? cried Mrs. Dawes, more as an inquiry than as an assertion. Mrs. Gibson has called upon me. Ay, youre like to be a patient of the doctors, put in Mrs. Goodenough. She seemed to me very affable, though she is so intimate with the Countess and the family at the Towers; and is quite the lady herself; dines late, Ive heard, and everything in style. Style! very different style to what Bob Gibson, her husband, was used to when first he came hereglad of a mutton-chop in his surgery, for I doubt if hed a fire anywhere else; we called him Bob Gibson then, but none on us dare Bob him now; Id as soon think o calling him sweep! I think it looks very bad for Miss Gibson! said one lady, rather anxious to bring back the conversation to the more interesting present time. But, as soon as Mrs. Goodenough heard this natural comment on the disclosures she had made, she fired round on the speaker Not at all bad, and Ill trouble you not to use such a word as that about Molly Gibson, as Ive known her all her life. Its odd, if you will. I was odd myself as a girl; I never could abide a plate of gathered gooseberries, but I must needs go and skulk behind a bush and gather em for myself. Its some folks taste, though it maynt be Miss Brownings, whod have all the courting done under the nose of the family. All as ever I said was, that I was surprised at it in Molly Gibson; and that Id ha thought it was liker that pretty piece of a Cynthia, as they call her; indeed, at one time I was ready to swear as it was her Mr. Preston was after. And now, ladies, Ill wish you a very good night. I cannot abide waste; and Ill venture for it Hettys letting the candle in the lantern run all to grease, instead of putting it out, as Ive told her to do, if ever shes got to wait for me. So, with formal dipping curtseys, the ladies separated, but not without thanking Mrs. Dawes for the pleasant evening they had had; a piece of old-fashioned courtesy always gone through in those days. |
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