She was fond of Mrs.Thornburgh, but there was something in the ebullient energies of the vicar's wife which always gave her a sense of bustle and fatigue.
'I am sure you will be sorry to hear,' began her visitor, that Mr.
Elsmere is going.' 'Going ?' said Mrs.Leyburn, laying down her knitting.

'Why, I thought he was going to stay with you another ten days at least.' 'So did I--so did he,' said Mrs.Thornburgh, nodding, and then pausing with a most effective air of sudden gravity and 'recollection.' 'Then why--what's the matter ?' asked Mrs.Leyburn, wondering.
Mrs.Thornburgh did not answer for a minute, and Mrs.Leyburn began to feel a little nervous, her visitor's eyes were fixed upon her with so much meaning.

Urged by a sudden impulse, she bent forward; so did Mrs.
Thornburgh, and their two elderly heads nearly touched.
'The young man is in love!' said the vicar's wife in a stage whisper, drawing back after a pause, to see the effect of her announcement.
'Oh! with whom ?' asked Mrs.Leyburn, her look brightening.

She liked a love affair as much as ever.
Mrs.Thornburgh furtively looked round to see if the door was shut and all safe--she felt herself a criminal, but the sense of guilt had an exhilarating rather than a depressing affect upon her.
'Have you guessed nothing?
have the girls told you anything ?' 'No!' said Mrs.Leyburn, her eyes opening wider and wider.

She never guessed anything; there was no need, with three daughters to think for her, and give her the benefit of their young brains.