Both vehicles stopped, and Ralph immediately began to tell the old lady of Miriam's good fortune.

He told, also, of his own good fortune in having Mrs.Drane and her daughter to run the house during Miriam's absence, and was in high good spirits and glad to talk.
Miss Panney listened with rigid attention; but when Ralph had finished, she asked Mrs.Drane if she had left her daughter alone at Cobhurst, while she and Mr.Haverley came to town.
"Oh, yes," answered the other lady; "Cicely is there, and hard at work; but she is not alone.

You know our good La Fleur is with us, and will remain as long as the doctor and Mrs.Tolbridge are away." When Miss Panney received this last bit of information, she gazed intently at Mrs.Drane and then at Ralph, after which she bade them good morning, and drove off.
"The old lady is not in such jolly good humor as when she lunched with us the other day," said Ralph.
"That is true," said Mrs.Drane; "but I have noticed that very elderly people are apt to be moody." Twice in the course of a year Miss Panney allowed herself to swear, if there happened to be occasion for it.

In her young days a lady of fashion would sometimes swear with great effect; and Miss Panney did not entirely give up any old fashion that she liked.

Now, there being good reason for it, and no one in sight, she swore, and directed her abjurations against herself.