And that reminds me of another remarkable virtue in Mrs.Tod--she can hold her tongue." "How so ?" "In two whole days she has not communicated to us a single fact concerning our neighbours on the other half of Rose Cottage." "Did you want to know ?" John laughingly denied; then allowed that he always had a certain pleasure in eliciting information on men and things.
"The wife being indicated, I suppose, by that very complimentary word 'thing.' But what possible interest can you have in either the old gentleman or the old lady ?" "Stop, Phineas: you have a bad habit of jumping at conclusions.

And in our great dearth of occupation here, I think it might be all the better for you to take a little interest in your neighbours.

So I've a great mind to indulge you with an important idea, suggestion, discovery.

Harkee, friend!"-- and he put on an air of sentimental mystery, not a bad copy of our old acquaintance, Mr.Charles--"what if the--the individual should not be an old lady at all ?" "What! The old gentleman's wife ?" "Wife?
Ahem! more jumping at conclusions.

No; let us keep on the safe side, and call her the--individual.