Almost an hour had passed when she rose to leave. Mrs. Ned was so
grateful for the visit and the help that, out in the narrow little
passage, she threw her arms round Mary's neck and drew her to her bosom.
Holding her thus, after several hearty kisses, she said in a mysterious
whisper, with her lips close to Mary's ear: "Mary, love, may I say
something to you?" and the permission granted, went on: "That is, give
you a bit of a hint, dearie?"
"Why, of course you may, Polly."
"Sure you won't feel hurt, dear?"
"Quite sure. What is it?" and Mary disengaged herself, that she might
look the speaker in the face.
"Well, it's just this--you mentioned the name yourself, or I wouldn't
have dared. It's young Mr. Smith, Mary. My dear, in future don't you
have 'im quite so much about the house as you do at present. It ain't
the thing. People WILL talk, you know, if you give 'em a handle."("Oh,
but Polly!" in a blank voice from Mary.) "Now, now, I'm not blaming you
--not the least tiddly-wink. But there's no harm in being careful, is
there, love, if you don't want your name in people's mouths? I'm that
fond of you, Mary--you don't mind me speaking, dearie?"
"No, Polly, I don't. But it's the greatest nonsense--I never heard such
a thing!" said Mary hotly. "Why, Purdy is Richard's oldest friend. They
were schoolboys together."
"May be they were. But I hear 'e's mostly up at your place when
Richard's out. And you're a young and pretty woman, my dear; it's
Richard who ought to think of it, and he so much older than you.
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