“Very well, as I hear. You know, I guess, that Betty is engaged in marriage?”
“So we heard. To Sir Charles Rich, is it not?”
“The same. But maybe you have not heard of Molly’s conquest?” asked Lady Betty, with an amused little laugh.
“What, is Mrs Molly in any body’s chains?”
“Indeed, I guess not, Mrs Jane,” replied Lady Betty, still laughing. “I expect my friend Mr Thomas Mainwaring is in Molly’s chains, if chains there be.”
“Eh, she’ll lead him a weary life!” said Mrs Jane.
“Let us hope she will sober down,” answered Lady Betty. “I am not unwilling to allow there hath of late been room for improvement. Yet is there some good in Molly, as I think.”
Phoebe remembered Molly’s assistance in the matter of Mr Edmundson, and thought it might be so.
“Well, and what of Mrs Gatty?”
“Ah, poor maid! She, at least, can scarce hope to be happy, her disfigurement is so unfortunate.”