Miss Blodgett bridled and smiled and was understood to express her opinion that she was "too old."
"'Too old!' My dear Miss Blodgett! One is never too old to be happy. I intend to be as happy as ever I can. I shall hang up my stocking; and I expect everybody to put something in it."
"You ought to have let us know that beforehand, madame," said Miss
Blodgett.
"Let you know beforehand!" said Mrs. Mowbray, while her eye twinkled
mischievously: "My dear friend! I don't want any but free-will offerings.
You didn't think I was going to levy black mail? did you? Miss Blodgett!
I thought you knew me better."
Whether she were in jest or in earnest, Rotha could not make up her mind. She was laughing at Miss Blodgett, that Rotha saw; but was it all nonsense about the stocking and the gifts? Mrs. Mowbray's sweet eyes were dancing with fun, her lips wreathed with the loveliest archness; whatever she meant, Rotha was utterly and wholly bewitched. She ran on for some little time, amusing herself and the girls, and putting slow Miss Blodgett in something of an embarrassment, she was so much too quick for her.
"Are you going to hang up your stocking, Miss Emory?"
Miss Emory in her turn smiled and bridled, and seemed at a loss how to answer.
"Miss Eutable?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Certainly. We will all hang up our stockings. Do you think by the chimney is the best place, Louisa?"