After a consultation, I was deputed to
Helen with many assurances that Katherine was very sorry, she could
not exactly tell why, but for whatever had grieved Helen; and after a
good deal of kissing and lamenting on both sides, which, I believe,
Katherine considered as a punishment for her inconsiderate speech,
things were set right again.'
'Inconsiderate, Mamma?' said Anne; 'that seems as if you blamed my
aunt, when it seems to me that Mrs. Staunton deserved all the blame
for her excessive folly, and what I should think want of confidence
in her friend's affection.'
'It was certainly very silly,' said Lady Merton; 'but you know, Anne,
that when people have once accustomed themselves to get into a habit
of making mountains of mole-hills, they cannot see anything as it
really is. I thought Katherine quite in the right, as you do now,
but I believe she considered that, knowing as she did the over-
sensitiveness of her friend, she should have been more cautious in
what she said.'
'That was the right way for her to take it,' said Anne; 'but I still
think Mrs.
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