"Tim Robins isn't always a perfectly truthful boy," remarked Miss Sophy.
This was a mild way of stating the fact that Tim was known far and wide to be an arrant liar.
"How came you to see Tim, Susanna?"
"Oh, please, mum, I was only just a-peeping out, and he went by, and he told me, and he'd been for the doctor, and all of 'em was drownded, he says."
"I'm afraid it must really be true," sighed Miss Coxen. "Well, you may go, Susanna; and mind, you are not to peep out any more."
Whereat Susanna vanished.
There could be no further question as to the propriety of Miss Sophy dressing with all speed and hastening across the road. Not only were the two reels of cotton found to be an urgent necessity, but also "that poor dear girl Mimy" would need comforting for her brother's death.
So the little woman bustled herself as fast as possible into a superabundance of wraps, and then pitter-pattered over to the opposite door, being vary nearly blown clean away by the blast which assailed her half-way. However, she just managed to keep her equilibrium, and in two or three more seconds she was under shelter.
"I've come for some reels of cotton, Mimy; No. 30 and No. 36, the best make."
Mimy had appeared at the sound of the bell.