“Oh, yes,” said she, assuming an injured look and tone. “Everybody knows about that, and there’s some sense in their bein’ mad, for ’twas plaguy mortifyin’ to Dell to offer to teach and be rejected by Mr. Randall, a man that none of the Thompsons would wipe their old shoes on, and then, ’tisn’t every big bug that will stoop to teach, for you know ’tain’t considered fust cut.”
“No, I didn’t know it,” and so I said, but she assured me of the fact, quoting as authority, both Mrs. Thompson and Dell, who, I found, were her oracles in everything. After a time I brought her back to Mrs. Brown, whose husband, she said, was gone to sea, and who had herself applied for the school.
“But between you and me,” she added, speaking in a whisper, “it’s a mighty good thing that she didn’t get it, for she ain’t the likeliest person that ever was, and nobody under the sun would have sent to her. Isick shouldn’t a’ gone a single day, for her morals is very bad. She used to belong to the Orthodox Church, but they turned her out for dancin’ at a party, and when she lived in Wooster she jined the ‘Piscopals, who, you know, let their members cut up all sorts—but, land sakes! how I’m talkin’! You must not breathe a word I say, for I make it a pint not to slander my neighbors, and if everybody minded their own business as well as I do, there wouldn’t be so much backbitin’ as there is. And that makes me think I’ve half a mind to caution you—but no, I guess I won’t—mebby you’ll tell on’t.”
Of course my curiosity was roused, and of course I said I wouldn’t tell; whereupon she proceeded to inform me that Mrs. Randall was a very talkin’ woman, and I must be pretty careful in her presence. “You can tell me anything you wish to,” said she, “for I’m a master hand to keep a secret; but Miss Randall is forever in hot water. She and Miss Brown are hand in glove, and both on ’em turn up their noses at Miss Thompson and Dell, who never pretend to make anything of ’em. I’m considerable intimate, at the Captain’s, and I know all about it. Dell is smart as a steel trap, and it’s a pity she’s took such a dislike to you.”
“I don’t think she ought to blame me,” said I, “for I didn’t know as she wanted the school”——
“’Tain’t that altogether,” resumed Mrs. Ross, again speaking in a whisper. “’Tain’t that altogether, and if you’ll never lisp a word on’t I’ll tell you the hull story.”
I gave the required promise, and then Mrs. Ross proceeded to inform me that Dell was jealous of me.
“Jealous!” I exclaimed. “How can that be?”
“You remember Dr. Clayton, don’t you?” said she.
“Yes, I remember him, but what has he to do with Miss Thompson’s being jealous of me!”