"I’ll do my best, I’m sure," she assented casually and without looking
at her, "though I doubt they’ll want coaxing a bit wi’ a broom-handle or
a clout!" She disliked being called Mrs. Will, and knew that Mrs.
Addison did it with fell intent. It was galling to be reminded that, in
spite of his success, Will had still not managed to make himself into
the elder son.... "I can’t say they’re that set on either church or
chapel unless it’s to see a lass," she went on, busy with the cups, "and
I doubt they don’t reckon much o’ sermons unless they’re good. They’ve
been better eddicated than most folk, you’ll think on, so they’re hard
to suit. ’Tisn’t likely they could do wi’ second-hand preaching from
some as happen never went to school at all."
Mr. A’ddison made a sudden attempt to speak, but choked instead, while
Eliza looked as innocent as a large-sized lamb.
"Ay, I’ve heard a deal o’ sermons as was just waste breath," she went on
kindly, "and that’s the truth. All the same, I’ll likely look in at
Mission myself, one o’ these days, if I can get away. I’m always glad
to set still after a hard week, and to get a look at other folks’
jackets and hats. Not that there’s much to crack on at chapel, that
way.... I’m a deal fonder o’ church. I was wed at St. Michael’s,
you’ll think on,--ay, and Sarah an’ all. Eh, I could laugh even yet at
yon march we stole on her, me an’ Will!"
Sally moved impatiently at her aunt’s elbow, and muttered something
under her breath. She was tired of the old story, and disapproved of it
as well. Sarah had lifted her cup to her lips, but now she set it
down....
Mary Phyllis stopped giggling a moment, and leaned forward to speak.
"I was telling Cousin Elliman about it only this morning," she said
noisily, "and he says it’s the funniest thing he ever heard! I thought
everybody knew about it, but he says he didn’t. He said it was real
smart of you, Mother, and he wished he could have been there...."
"I’ll be bound Sarah didn’t think it smart!" Eliza chuckled, but without
glancing at her victim’s face. She had a trick of discussing people
when they were present, as Sarah knew. She could tell by the trend of
Eliza’s voice that she spoke without turning her head.
"Smart? Nay! Sarah was real wild, you take my word! I spoke to her in
t’vestry when the show was through, and she give me a look as was more
like a dog’s bite. Eh, well, I reckon poor Sarah was jealous o’ my
gown, seeing her own was nowt to crack on,--and nowt then! I’d always
settled to be real smart when I got wed, and my own lasses was just the
same. None o’ my folk can do wi’ owt as isn’t first-class and happen a
bit over. Yon’s the photo we had took at Annie Belle’s wedding," she
added, turning to point, "and there’s another of Alice Evelyn’s in the
parlour."
The cousin and Mary Phyllis left their seats to giggle together over the
stiff figures, and presently the girl turned to her sister with a
malicious taunt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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