She laid her hand gently upon her child's head and remained silent.

Lucia was silent, also.

She wanted her mother to talk, yet hesitated to ask her the questions she wanted answered.

At last she said abruptly, "Mamma, did you _ever_ gossip ?" Mrs.Costello laughed.
"Do you think I never do now, then?
I am afraid I cannot say as much for myself." "I never hear you.

But when you were a girl, you must have heard things about people." "No doubt I did.