The colds did not enter into the consideration of the two older Kenway sisters when it came to the night of Carrie Poole’s big party. The Pooles, who lived in a big house out on the Buckshot Road, always gave several very enjoyable entertainments during the winter season. The date of the first one of this season was close at hand, and Ruth and Agnes had insisted on having new frocks for the occasion.
That brought Miss Ann Titus into the old Corner House for several days; for after all, nobody could quite cut and fit a party dress like the gossipy spinster whom Tess had once called “such a fluid talker.” It was from the birdlike Miss Titus and her rather tart tongue that the Corner House girls learned of another slant in the Pendleton matter.
“Yes, I got plenty of work, the goodness’ knows,” Miss Titus observed in response to a query from Aunt Sarah Maltby, in whose room the seamstress always worked when she was at the Corner House. “I was that glad when Mrs. Pendleton said she couldn’t have me this fall as usual, that I didn’t know what to do. It give me a chance to take on other folks that could afford to pay better,” and Miss Titus sniffed.
“Oh!” exclaimed Agnes who chanced to be present, “you know Mrs. Pendleton, then? You know her husband was hurt, of course?”
“I know they say he was hurt,” responded the sharp-tongued woman promptly. “But as to that——”
“We know he was hurt, Miss Titus,” interposed Ruth, smiling. “For we found him after he fell in the woods and we took him home in our car.”
“Do tell!”
“And we think the Pendletons are very nice people, if unfortunate,” added Ruth, thinking it better to warn the seamstress against going too far. Ruth abhorred ill-natured gossip, and Miss Titus was inclined to repeat the bitter dregs of neighborhood news.
“Well, handsome is as handsome does,” said Miss Titus, with a toss of her head. “I must say I think Mrs. Pendleton is a nice woman, and her children are as well behaved as any. But that man——”
“You mean Mr. Pendleton,” said Ruth gravely. “We know all about his trouble.”