Surely Pussy knew best about things like that! He would as soon have thought of interfering with her housekeeping as of instructing her in the details of ladylike conduct.

And, indeed, he had not observed that Gabriella was in the room until his wife, for her own purpose, had adroitly presented the fact to his notice.
"Gabriella in the room ?" he repeated in perplexity.

"Why, you'd better go, hadn't you, Gabriella?
Oughtn't she to go, Pussy ?" "Just as you think best, dear, but it seems to me--" "Certainly she ought to go," said Uncle Meriweather decisively.

"The less women and girls know about such matters, the better.

I don't understand, Fanny, how you could possibly have consented to Gabriella's being present." "I didn't consent, Uncle Meriweather," protested poor Mrs.Carr, who could not bear the mildest rebuke without tears; "I only said to Pussy that Gabriella knew a great deal more already than she ought to, and I'm sure I'm not to blame for it.