'Do you know, Totty ?' 'In about a fortnight, I think.' 'Is the bands puts up ?' 'They're going to be married at the Registry Office.' 'Well, I never!' cried Annie West.

'You wouldn't catch me doing without a proper wedding! I suppose that's why Thyrza won't talk about it.

But I believe he's a rum sort of man, isn't he ?' Nobody could reply from personal acquaintance with Gilbert Grail.

Totty did not choose to give her opinion.
'I say,' she exclaimed, 'we've had enough about marriages.

Tilly, make yourself useful, child, and cut some bread.' For a couple of hours at least gossip was unintermittent.