"There's quite enough for him and me."
"I must say you look at the matter in the most disinterested way. I couldn't bring myself to take it up like that."
"You haven't lived the life that I have, Miss Todd, and I don't suppose you ever feel solitary as I do."
"Well, I don't know. We single women have to be solitary sometimes—and sometimes sad."
"But you're never sad, Miss Todd."
"Have you never heard there are some animals, that, when they're sick, crawl into holes, and don't ever show themselves among the other animals? Though it is only the animals that do it, there's a pride in that which I like. What's the good of complaining if one's down in the mouth? When one gets old and heavy and stupid, one can't go about as one did when one was young; and other people won't care to come to you as they did then."
"But I had none of that when I was young, Miss Todd."
"Hadn't you? Then I won't say but what you may be right to try and begin now. But, law! what am I talking of? I am old enough to be your mother."
"I think it so kind of you to talk to me at all."
"Well, now about Mr Maguire. I don't think he's possessed of much of the fat of the land; but that you say you know already?"