The Argosy — page 311: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

290 A Litile Maid, an Old Maid and the Major. While she was briefly giving an order, who should enter upon the scene but Miss Dodson herself. She was to be seen in the shop twenty times a day, having an inordinate love of talking, and condescending therefore to be quite a crony of the Post-mistress’s, She was a worldly-minded old maid, years older than her brother, | the young doctor and Maud’s lately-rejected suitor. Whilst prepared to detest any woman whom her brother should eventually marry, she yet, inconsistently, was outraged at Maud’s impertinence in refusing him. But she had no intention of quarrelling. That would have shut her out of Mrs. Sherlock’s house ; and to be shut out from any house was grief to Miss Dodson. ‘Oh, Miss Carleton! So you ree back. Indeed, I heard you had returned yesterday. However little of a gossip one may be, it is difficult to avoid hearing everything in Silcombe.” ‘Sometimes even more than is quite correct,” said Maud icily. ‘Yes, indeed, you are right there. But in that case one requires to be a gossip. Now you never gossip, I am sure, and no more do I. Three yards of navy blue serge, if you please, Mrs. Welbrow. I hope your husband is better? Yes? So glad. As I was saying, Miss Carleton, the irrepressible chattering that goes on in these small places is my abhorrence. When people come to me for news I always say: Don’t ask me. Ask So-and-So. I never know anything for I ask no questions. You had a dull time in town, I hear. Were with a friend in grief. An o/d friend?” ‘¢ A school friend.” ‘Oh! aschool—— Married?” Ses. ‘A professional man’s wife, 1 presume?” Then as Maud did not answer : ‘‘ Of course in that case you would not be likely to go much into society. I daresay your friend lives in a very quiet way. Now, when I go to town I plunge in a vortex of gaiety. But you made Major Murdoch’s acquaintance, I hear? ” “Vou heard so? From whom?” and Maud fixed her blue eyes steadily on Miss Dodson’s face. It remained unabashed, however, although its owner had expected another result to her observation. “ This little lady here told me,” she replied promptly, indicating Effie. ‘“O—h!” cried Effie. ‘‘ What a big story! You told me.” Miss Dodson hated children, but had an idea that they could be made useful as scapegoats on occasion. She sometimes found, how- ever, that in trusting to them for such a part, she leaned on a broken reed. This was the case now, and she turned purple with annoy- ance. ‘Your memory is short, little Missy, but your tongue is long,” she said with a rude laugh. ECONMMIELOOOKS.EO)