'Oh!' said Jane, 'when am I to meet you at school again? You never
told me which chapter I was to prepare; I cannot think what would
become of your examinations if it was not for me, you could not get
an answer to one question in three.'

'That was not what I wished to speak to you about,' said Mr.
Devereux. 'What had you been saying to Mrs. Appleton when I met you
at her door on Saturday?'

The colour rushed into Jane's cheeks, but she replied without
hesitation, 'Oh! different things, La pluie et le beau temps, just as
usual.'

'Cannot you remember anything more distinctly?'

'I always make a point of forgetting what I talk about,' said Jane,
trying to laugh.

'Now, Jane, let me tell you what has happened in the village--as I
came down the hill from the club-dinner--'

'Oh,' said Jane, hoping to make a diversion, 'Wat Greenwood came back
about a quarter of an hour ago, and he--'

Mr. Devereux proceeded without attending to her, 'As I came down the
hill from the club-dinner, old Mrs. Gage came out of Naylor's house,
and her daughter with her, in great anger, calling me to account for
having spoken of her in a most unbecoming way, calling her the sour
Gage, and trying to set the Squire against them.'