Once or twice Toole thought, and he was right, that she was on the point of making a disclosure.

But her heart failed her, and it came to nothing.

The little fellow's curiosity was on fire.

In his philosophy there was more in everything than met the eye, and he would not believe Magnolia, who laughed at him, that she did not know all about it.
On this present morning poor Mrs.Macnamara had received a note, at which she grew pale as the large pat of butter before her, and she felt quite sick as she thrust the paper into her pocket, and tried to smile across the breakfast table at Magnolia, who was rattling away as usual, and the old major who was chuckling at her impudent mischief over his buttered toast and tea.
'Why, mother dear,' cried Mag suddenly, 'what the plague ails your pretty face?
Did you ever see the like?
It's for all the world like a bad batter pudding! I lay a crown, now, that was a bill.

Was it a bill?
Come now, Mullikins (a term of endearment for mother).