Although she would not say anything more to Dora about that important piece of work, she would do it all the same.
This little visit had been an important one to Miss Panney; it had enabled her to understand Dora's character much better than she had understood it before; and she perceived that in this case of matchmaking she must not only do a great deal of the work herself, but she must do it without Dora's knowing anything about it.

She liked this, for she was not much given to consulting with people.
Miss Panney had another call to pay in the neighborhood, and she had intended, for form's sake, to spend a little time with Mrs.Bannister; but she did neither.

She went back by the way she had come, wishing to learn all she could about the movements of the Cobhurst gig.
Approaching the Tolbridge house, she saw that vehicle standing before the door, with the sleepy Mrs.Browning tied to a post, and as she drew nearer, she perceived Ralph Haverley sitting alone on the vine-shaded piazza.

The old lady would not enter the Tolbridge gate, but she stood on the other side of the street, and beckoned to Ralph, who, as soon as he saw her, ran over to her.
Ralph walked a little way with Miss Panney, and after answering her most friendly inquiries about Miriam, he explained how he happened to be sitting alone on the piazza; the doctor and Miss Drane, whom he had brought to town, were at work at some manuscript, and he had preferred to wait outside instead of indoors.
"I called on Miss Bannister," he said, "but she was not at home, so I came back here." "It is a pity she was out," said Miss Panney, carelessly, "and now that you have mentioned Miss Bannister, I would like to ask you something; why does not your sister return her visits?
I saw Dora not very long ago, and found that her feelings had been a little hurt--not much, perhaps, but a little--by Miriam's apparent indifference to her.

Dora is a very sensitive girl, and is slow to make friends among other girls.