What's the matter, Maria?
Oh, good gracious, I see you are taking cream.

You know how ill cream always makes you.

Will no one be kind enough to give Maria another cup of tea?
Well, ladies, I've come with news.

We're to have a wedding soon!" Here Mrs.Bell, who had felt, as she afterwards expressed it, cold shivers going down her back, while Mrs.Butler was firing off her preamble, now bridled and even blushed.

It was a little premature, certainly, but reports always did a trifle exceed the truth, and, as Matty was so certain to be engaged immediately she could scarcely blame Mrs.Butler for alluding to it prematurely.
She bent forward therefore and touched her friend on the arm.
"Spare the poor child's blushes," she whispered.