Annie Kilburn : a Novel by William Dean Howells
page 64 of 291 (21%)
page 64 of 291 (21%)
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Mrs. Munger called this back after starting her pony. Mrs. Gerrish did not
understand, and screamed, "_What_?" Mrs. Munger repeated her joke at the top of her voice. "Oh, I can walk!" Mrs. Gerrish yelled at the top of hers. Both the ladies laughed at their repartee. "She's as jealous of Mrs. Wilmington as a cat," Mrs. Munger confided to Annie as they drove away; "and she's just as pleased as Punch that I've spoken to her first. Mrs. Wilmington won't mind. She's so delightfully indifferent, it really renders her almost superior; you might forget that she was a village person. But this has been an immense stroke. I don't know," she mused, "whether I'd better let her get there first and prepare her husband, or do it myself. No; I'll let _her_. I'll stop here at Gates's." She stopped at the pavement in front of a provision store, and a pale, stout man, in the long over-shirt of his business, came out to receive her orders. He stood, passing his hand through the top of a barrel of beans, and listened to Mrs. Munger with a humorous, patient smile. "Mr. Gates, I want you to send me up a leg of lamb for dinner--a large one." "Last year's, then," suggested Gates. "No; _this_ year's," insisted Mrs. Munger; and Gates gave way with the air of pacifying a wilful child, which would get, after all, only what he chose to allow it. |
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