20/21 He told Patty this, but bid her not mind it, and be sure not to say any thing to us about it, for Mrs.Hodges _would_ be cross sometimes, and as long as so many sacks were sold, it did not signify who ate the remainder. And so Patty told me, and I was excessively shocked indeed! I would not have Mr.Knightley know any thing about it for the world! He would be so very.... I wanted to keep it from Jane's knowledge; but, unluckily, I had mentioned it before I was aware." Miss Bates had just done as Patty opened the door; and her visitors walked upstairs without having any regular narration to attend to, pursued only by the sounds of her desultory good-will. Pray take care, Miss Woodhouse, ours is rather a dark staircase--rather darker and narrower than one could wish. |