To her relief the perilous topic was abandoned.
"I suppose you both heard the big news today." Mrs.Penniman spoke ingenuously, but it was downright lying--no less.
She supposed they had not heard the big news.

She was certain they had not.

Winona was attentive.

Her mother's business of plain and fancy dressmaking did not a little to make the acoustics of Newbern superior.
From her clients she gleaned the freshest chronicles of Newbern's social life, many being such as one might safely repeat; many more, Winona uncomfortably recalled, the sort no good woman would let go any further.
She hoped the imminent disclosure would not be of the latter class, yet suddenly she wished to hear it even if it were.

She affected to turn with reluctance from her budding acquaintanceship with Matthew Arnold.
"It's the twins," began her mother with a look of pleased horror.