"Sit down a minute," said Mrs. Creddle. "You look fit to drop. Aren't you feeling well, Carrie?"
"Oh, I'm all right," she answered impatiently. "What's that you are ironing?"
"It's some curtains for Miss Temple. I was there ironing yesterday, but didn't get these finished."
Caroline sharply turned with her back to the kitchen, looking out of the window. "Did they say anything about the wedding being put off?"
"Yes. Miss Laura's got a chill. Something to do with her digestion. She can't scarcely eat nothing."
"Oh!" Caroline could not say another word.
"Of course, it's hard on Mr. Wilson; but I think she's in the right on it. No use going away to them grand hotels if you can't enjoy the food," pursued Mrs. Creddle.
"Did you—did you hear how long it was put for?" said Caroline.
"Not exactly, as you may say," answered Mrs. Creddle. "Miss Panton came into the kitchen while I was there, and she said delays was dangerous. You know her way. She seemed to think it would be next month." She paused, then added uncomfortably: "I was on pins and needles for fear they might have heard about you and Mr. Wilson, Carrie, you know—being about the lanes at night together, and that. But I'm sure they hadn't." She paused again. "Well, I aren't sorry you had a lesson that night you were locked out, Carrie. Your mother and I had the same sort of temptations when we were out in placing—though you mayn't think it. There was a young gentleman from college in my last situation who begged me almost on his bended knees to walk out with him, but I knew what that led to." She paused again. "Cheer up, lass; it hurts a bit at the time, but it's all for the best. Once bitten, twice shy."
"You're always talking about what people did when you were young," said Caroline, turning away abruptly.