"I had almost despaired of you," she told Miss Sterling and Polly, as she walked with them into the house. "And I'm glad so many could come. I didn't know how it would be. Awfully sad about Miss Twining, isn't it? I always liked Miss Twining."
"Isn't she lovable?" put in Polly.
"Yes, very.—Take seats, all of you. We were just speaking of Miss Twining—I'm so sorry for her! But if she is losing her mind, perhaps it will be providential for her to go soon."
"'Losing her mind'!" exclaimed Miss Crilly. "Who made up that whopper?"
"Why, isn't she? One of the Board told me—Mrs. Brintnall. I met her in town the other day. I think it came straight from Miss Sniffen. She said she was a great care, now that she has heart disease, and that she is liable to drop away any time. Mrs. Brintnall spoke of her mind's failing as if everybody knew it—that a good many days she would seem as bright as ever, and then again she didn't know much of anything and would be so obstinate and ugly that she'd have to be punished just like a child! Isn't that awful! But you think it isn't true!"
"Think! I know it isn't true! not a single word of it!" Polly was too excited to heed Miss Sterling's warning pinch.
"I never saw anything out of the way in her," attested Miss Mullaly. "She has always appeared to me like a very cultured woman."
"She is a perfect lady," asserted Mrs. Winslow Teed.
"Yes, she is!" agreed Miss Castlevaine. "I guess Miss Sniffen's the one that's losing her mind—huh!"
"Is she as bad as ever?" queried Mrs. Tenney anxiously.