But it suited me.

I loved to talk then not less than I do now, and in a few minutes I had told all I knew--and more, too, most likely.
At last Mrs.Hudson asked about Mr.Gilbert, and how I liked him.
"Not a bit," said I."He's the hatefulest, crossest, big-feelingest man I ever saw, and Adaline is just like him!" Had I been a little older I might, perhaps, have wondered at the crimson flush which my hasty words brought to Mrs.Hudson's cheek, but I did not notice it then, and thinking she was, of course, highly entertained, I continued to talk about Mr.Gilbert and Adaline, in the last of whom Mabel seemed the most interested.

Of Nellie I spoke with the utmost affection, and when Mrs.Hudson expressed a wish to see her, I promised, if possible, to bring her there; then as I had already outstayed the time for which permission had been given, I tied on my sunbonnet and started for home, revolving the ways and means by which I should keep my promise.
This proved to be a very easy matter; for within a few days Nellie came to return my visit, and as mother had other company she the more readily gave us permission to go where we pleased.

Nellie had a perfect passion for ghost and witch stories, saying though that "she never liked to have them explained--she'd rather they'd be left in solemn mystery;" so when I told her of the "old mine" and the "haunted house" she immediately expressed a desire to see them.

Hiding our bonnets under our aprons the better to conceal our intentions from sister Lizzie, who, we fancied, had serious thoughts of _tagging_, we sent her up-stairs in quest of something which we knew was not there, and then away we scampered down the green lane and across the pasture, dropping once into some alders as Lizzie's yellow hair became visible on the fence at the foot of the lane.