house, Mrs. Lynge.

Mrs.Holt: And for heaven's sake never mention the stepsister,
either!

Mrs.Lynge: Oh, so Mrs. Bernick has a step-sister, too?

Mrs.Rummel: Had, luckily-- for the relationship between them is
all over now. She was an extraordinary person too! Would you
believe it, she cut her hair short, and used to go about in men's
boots in bad weather!

Mrs.Holt: And when her step-brother,the black sheep, had gone
away, and the whole town naturally was talking about him--what do
you think she did? She went out to America to him!

Mr.Rummel: Yes, but remember the scandal she caused before she
went, Mrs. Holt.

Mrs.Holt: Hush, don't speak of it.

Mrs.Lynge: My goodness, did she create a scandal too?

Mrs.Rummel: I think you ought to hear it, Mrs. Lynge. Mr.
Bernick had just got engaged to Betty Tonnesen, and the two of
them went arm in arm into her aunt's room to tell her the news--

Mrs.Holt: The Tonnesens' parents were dead, you know--

Mrs.Rummel: When, suddenly, up got Lona Hessel from her chair