'Yes,' said Elizabeth, '"we are free to sport and play;" I have read
to the old woman, and crammed the children, and given old Mrs.
Clayton a catalogue raisonnee of all the company and all their
dresses, and a bill of fare of our luncheon and dinner, and where
everything came from.'
'And yet you profess to hold gossip in abomination,' said Anne.
'Oh! but this is old gossip, regular legitimate amusement for the
poor old lady,' said Elizabeth. 'She really is a lady, but very
badly off, and most of the Abbeychurch gentility are too fine to
visit her, so that a little quiet chat with her is by no means of the
common-place kind. Besides, she knows and loves us all like her own
children. It was one of the first pleasures I can remember, to
gather roses for her, and carry them to her from her own old garden
here.'
'Well, in consideration of all that you say,' said Anne, 'I suppose I
must forgive her for keeping you away all this afternoon.'
'And what did you do all that time?' said Elizabeth. 'Have you read
Hereward, and do not you delight in him?'
'Yes,' said Anne, 'and I want to know whether he is not the father of
Cedric of Rotherwood.
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