Besides, the mere dread of having the infliction of such a mother-in-law would have sufficed to frighten off the most ardent wooer or rabid aspirant for connubial felicity.
Notwithstanding this, the girls went about to some extent in their own ways; and, on their return home, naturally gossiped with their mother over all they had seen and heard abroad.

Thus it was that Lady Dasher was so well-informed in all local matters, and why I thought of appealing to her aid.

But I should have to manage cautiously.

She would think nothing--she was such a simple-minded body--of detailing all your inquiries to the very subject of them, in a fit of unguarded confidence.

Cross-examining her was a most diplomatic proceeding.