"Don't I, though! I should like to know who knows more."
"Well, now, tell us all about it!"
"You've gone and put me out now, and I don't know where to begin."
"Well, then, I'll help you out—what time was it that Mr. Brudenell acknowledged his private marriage?"
"There now; how did you know it was a private marriage? I never said nothing about it being private yet! Hows'ever, I s'pose you so clever you guessed it, and anyway you guessed right; it were a private marriage. And when did he own up to it, you ask? Why, not as long as he could help it, you may depend! Not until his lawful wife actilly arove up at Brudenell Hall, and that was last night about one o'clock!"
"Oh, there you are very much mistaken; it was but seven in the evening," said Nora.
"There now, again! how do you know anything about it? Somebody's been here afore me and been a-telling of you, I suppose; and a-telling of you wrong, too!" petulantly exclaimed the old woman.
"No, indeed, there has not been a soul here to-day; neither have we heard a word from Brudenell Hall! Still, I think you must be mistaken as to the hour of the wife's arrival, and perhaps as to other particulars, too; but excuse me, dear Mrs. Jones, and go on and tell the story."
"Well, but what made you say it was seven o'clock when his wife arrove?" inquired the gossip.
"Because that was really the hour that I went up to Brudenell. Hannah was with me and knows it."