"Mary Cary will ruin that child," said Mrs. Pryor. "She is constantly
taking her about and giving her things. But Mary, of course, does as
she pleases. She always has and always will."

"She pleases a lot of people besides herself, and I always did say if you
could do that you certainly ought to, for there are so few that can.
But I don't think Mary gives herself a thought. Did you all know the
night-school teacher is going to leave?" and Mrs. Tate put down her
fan long enough to again wipe her face with Mrs. Webb's handkerchief.
"Mary is so sorry about it, but, of course, she can't help it."

"I believe she can help it." Mrs. Pryor looked around the room as if
for confirmation. "Everybody knows the reason he's going. I believe
any girl can keep a man from falling in love with her if she wants to.
The trouble with Mary is she doesn't want to. There are my girls. You
don't catch them encouraging attentions they don't want."

Mrs. Moon's foot pressed Mrs. Corbin's. Miss Matoaca Brockenborough's
elbow nudged Mrs. Tazewell, but no one spoke, and Mrs. Pryor went on:
"But Mary Cary has been a law unto herself from childhood, and, now
she is back in Yorkburg, she thinks she can keep it up, can live her
life independently of others, can do her own way, come and go as she
pleases, and not be criticized. Yorkburg isn't used to having a young
woman livein a house alone, except for a white servant whom nobody
knows anything about."

"She's got three servants," chimed Mrs. Tate. "Ephraim and Kezia both
live with her."

"I wasn't speaking of colored servants." Again Mrs. Pryor waved her