For one thing Minnie was too young, and what's more, she hadn't even
given half a thought to him in _that_ way; and I wouldn't have the
child worried about such things, because, as you know, she's
delicate, and it doesn't take much to upset her in her mind, and
then she can't sleep at nights. So I told Mr. Gammon plain and
straight, and he took it in the right spirit, but he hasn't been
here since. And I'm as sure as anything that Polly's letter is a
nasty, mean bit of falsehood, though I'm sorry to have to say it to
you, Ebenezer."
Mr. Sparkes had the beginning of a cold in the head, which did not
tend to make him cheerful. Sitting by the fireside, very upright in
his decent suit of Sunday black, he looked more than ever like a
clergyman, perchance a curate who is growing old without hope of a
benefice. Fortunately there entered about tea-time a young man in
much better spirits, evidently a welcome friend of Mrs. Clover's;
his name was Nelson. On his arrival Minnie joined the company, and
it would have been remarked by anyone with an interest in the
affairs of the family that Mrs.
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