straint
between them! Those who so interfere have a great deal to answer for.
They do not know what mischief they may be doing--what pain they may be
giving while they are gossiping, and making remarks to one another about
what they know nothing at all about. I have no patience with such
meddling!"

"So I perceive, indeed," replied Maria, somewhat amused. "But,
Margaret, you have been enlarging a good deal on what I said. Not a
syllable was spoken about any remarks, any observations between any
people; or even about reference to any particular person. I alone must
be subject to all this displeasure, and even I did not throw out a
single hint about any friend of yours."

"No, you did not; that is all very true," said Margaret, blushing: "but
neither was I vexed with you;--at least, not so much as with some
others. I was hasty."

"You were, indeed," said Maria, laughing. "I never witnessed such an
outburst from you before."

"And you shall not see such another; but I was answering less what you
said than what I have reason to suppose is in the minds of several other
people."

"In their minds? They have not told you their thoughts, then. And
_several_ other people, too! Why, Margaret, I really think it is not
very reasonable in you to find fault with others for thinking something
which they have not troubled you to listen to, and which is so natural,
that it has struck `several' of them. Surely, Margaret, you must be a
little, just a very little, touchy upon the matter."

"Touchy! What should make me touchy?"

"Ay, what?"

"I do assure you, Maria, nothing whatever has passed between that person
and me which has anything more than the commonest--No, I will not say
the commonest friendship, because I believe ours is a very warm and
intimate friendship; but indeed it is nothing more. You may be sure
that, if it had been otherwise, I should not have said a word upon the
whole matter, even to you; and I would not have allowed even you to
speak ten words to me about it. Are you satisfied now?"

"I am satisfied that you any what you think."

"Oh, Maria! what a sigh! If you have no objection, I should like to
know the meaning of that sigh."

"I was thinking of `the course of true love.'"

"But not that it `never does run smooth.' That is not true. Witness
Hester's."

"Dear Margaret, be not presumptuous! Consider how early the days of
that love are yet."

"And that love in their case has only j