Ellen Wood

“ I have had a letter, too."
"It can't be true—it can't be true. He had no more thought of being married when he left here, three days ago, than I have."
"How can we tell that, Miss Corny? How are we to know he did not go to be married? I fancy he did."
"Go to be married!" shrieked Miss Corny, in a passion. "He would not be such a fool. And to that fine lady-child! No—no." ”

“ Carlyle's visit to Castle Marling, Barbara Hare called at Miss Carlyle's, and found them going to tea much earlier than usual.
"We dined earlier," said Miss Corny, "and I ordered tea as soon as the dinner went away. Otherwise, Archibald would have taken none."
"I am as well without tea. And I have a mass of business to get through yet."
"You are not as well without it," cried Miss Corny, "and I don't choose you should go without it. Take off your bonnet, Barbara. He does things like nobody else ”

“ Hold the relics a minute, Barbara."
He put the pieces in her hand, and taking out a note case, made a note in pencil.
"What's that for?" she inquired.
He held it close to her eyes, that she might discern what he had written: "Brown parasol. B. H."
"A reminder for me, Barbara, in case I forget."
Barbara's eyes detected another item or two already entered in the note case: "piano," "plate."
"I jot down the things as they occur to me, that I must get in London," he explained. "Otherwise I should forget half." ”