Dora therefore relapsed once more into her seat by Miss Bird's side and resumed her sewing, and for some time the silence was unbroken save by the sound of stitching.
"When is the wedding, child?" asked Miss Bird, suddenly.
"On the 26th," said Dora, bending rather more closely over her work.
Miss Bird submitted the girl's profile to a severe scrutiny. "Personally," she said at length, "I don't like the man."
"Who?" said Dora.
"Jefferson."
"But," Dora hastened to retort, "you were in favour of my being engaged to him."
"I know more of him now," said the old maid, "and in my opinion that young doctor's worth ten of him."
Dora started, and her needle went into her finger.
"You pricked yourself then," jeered Miss Bird.