“Ye-es,” Bella murmured. “Of—of course I do.”
“I knew you would feel that way,” said Mrs. Sullender soothingly. “It’s unwise, because gossip travels so. It nearly always goes straight back to the people it’s about. In fact, I don’t believe I ever knew of one single case where it didn’t. Did you, Mrs. Sperry?”
“I—I don’t—that is, well, no,” Bella stammered.
“No. It’s so unwise!” Mrs. Sullender insisted, with a little murmur of tender laughter. Then she took the arm of her solemn and silent husband, and they turned together toward the gate, but paused. “Oh, I’d meant to tell you, Mrs. Sperry——”
“Uh—yes?”
“That dear little boy Georgie—the little boy you were chatting with the other morning when I called him in to play with my little girl—you remember, Mrs. Sperry?”
“Yes!” Bella gasped.
“I thought you made such friends with him you’d be sorry to know you won’t see him any more.”
“No?”
“No,” Mrs. Sullender cooed gently. “Poor little Georgie Goble!”