Basswood books

On the day after Mrs. Pendennis's visit to the Curate, which we have
recorded many pages back, Madame Fribsby settled in her mind that Mr.
Smirke must be in love with the widow, and did everything in her power to
encourage this passion on both sides. Mrs. Pendennis she very seldom saw,
indeed, except in public, and in her pew at church. That lady had very
little need of millinery, or made most of her own dresses and caps; but
on the rare occasions when Madame Fribsby received visits from Mrs.
Pendennis or paid her respects at Fairoaks, she never failed to entertain
the widow with praises of the Curate, pointing out what an angelical man
he was, how gentle, how studious, how lonely; and she would wonder that
no lady would take pity upon him.
Helen laughed at these sentimental remarks, and wondered that Madame
herself did not compassionate her lodger, and console him. Madame Fribsby
shook her Madonna front, "Mong cure a boco souffare," she said, laying
her hand on the part she designated as her cure. "It est more en Espang,
Madame," she said with a sigh.


Pages:
324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348