Something in the attitude of the
man and the coquettish upward tilt of the girl's face brought back to
her mind a forgotten remark of Mrs. Solomon Black's. Lydia had failed
to properly understand it, at the time. Mrs. Solomon Black was given
to cryptic remarks, and Lydia's mind had been preoccupied by the
increasing difficulties which threatened the accomplishment of her
purpose:
"A person, coming into a town like Brookville to live, by rights had
ought to have eyes in the backs of their heads," Mrs. Black had
observed.
It was at breakfast time, Lydia now remembered, and the minister was
late, as frequently happened.
"I thought like's not nobody would mention it to you," Mrs. Black had
further elucidated. "Of course _he_ wouldn't say anything, men-folks
are kind of sly and secret in their doings--even the best of 'em; and
you'll find it's so, as you travel along life's path-way."
Mrs. Black had once written a piece of poetry and it had actually
been printed in the Grenoble _News_; since then she frequently made
use of figures of speech.
"A married woman and a widow can speak from experience," she went on.
"So I thought I'd just tell you: he's as good as engaged, already."
"Do you mean Mr. Elliot?" asked Lydia incuriously.
Mrs. Black nodded.
"I thought you ought to know," she said.
Mr. Elliot had entered the room upon the heels of this warning, and
Lydia had promptly forgotten it. Now she paused for a swift review of
the weeks which had already passed since her arrival.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165