But this was not all; he was not the only one of the family
about whom the village began to chatter, and his unlucky mother was the
next to become a victim to their gossip.
"It is all settled," said Mrs. Pybus to Mrs. Speers, "the boy is to go to
College, and then the widow is to console herself."
"He's been there every day, in the most open manner, my dear," continued
Mrs. Speers.
"Enough to make poor Mr. Pendennis turn in his grave," said Mrs. Wapshot.
"She never liked him, that we know," says No. 1.
"Married him for his money. Everybody knows that: was a penniless
hanger-on of Lady Pontypool's," says No. 2.
"It's rather too open, though, to encourage a lover under pretence of
having a tutor for your son," cried No. 3.
"Hush! here comes Mrs. Portman," some one said, as the good Rector's wife
entered Madame Fribsby's shop, to inspect her monthly book of fashions
just arrived from London. And the fact is that Madame Fribsby had been
able to hold out no longer; and one day, after she and her lodger had
been talking of Pen's approaching departure, and the Curate had gone off
to give one of his last lessons to that gentleman, Madame Fribsby had
communicated to Mrs.
Pages:
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354