“Rather a remarkable young woman,” carelessly observed the rector.
“Decidedly!” said both the Misses Ponsonby, in perfect unison.
“She has been much neglected,” continued Miss Ponsonby. “Her manners leave much to be desired. She has evidently not been accustomed to the forms of good society, or to express herself in accordance with the usual practice. We have endeavoured to impress upon her that, not only is much care necessary in the choice of topics of conversation, but in the mode of dealing with them. I thought it better not to encourage any further remarks from her, or I should have pointed out that, if what you say of Dr. Johnson is correct, as I have no doubt it is, considering the party in the church to which he belonged, it only shows that he was unacquainted experimentally with the consolations of religion.”
“Isn’t Mr. Cardew a dear?” asked Miss Arden, when she and Catharine were together.
“I hardly understand what you mean, and I have not known Mr. Cardew long enough to give any opinion upon him.”
“How exasperating you are again! You do know what I mean; but you always pretend never to know what anybody means.”
“I do not know what you mean.”
“Why, isn’t he handsome; couldn’t you doat on him, and fall in love with him?”
“But he’s married.”
“You fearful Catharine! of course he’s married; you do take things so seriously.”