"I do not imagine they will be very terrible, Lottie."
"That's as a body may happen to think. There's been a great time since you started."
"What has happened?" I inquired, losing all scruples as to the manner in which Lottie might have obtained her information.
"No, no. Babylon went out to walk for her health--you see Babylon needs exercise. After you stole away, I had my eye on her--"
"Oh, didn't I?" she demanded, ironically, nodding her head with great significance. "I was at my window, Miss Hyde, and I always keep my eyes open. Howsumever, I wasn't watching you; I'm above such tricks, unless I feel it my duty, then I never stop at nothing--anything, I mean, thinking of the grammar."
"I don't know; but she knew where you were going."
I was so angry that I felt myself growing pale. Lottie saw it and tittered.
"You would like to choke her, now, wouldn't you, Miss Hyde? What a pity! it's agin religion and the law. I should just enjoy fixing her myself."
"For shame!" I said, but I am afraid it was only because I thought it a duty to check such expressions, not from any lack of sympathy with them.
Lottie tossed her head; but she was in too great haste to communicate her intelligence for much indignation.
"After you'd gone I watched her; she went about very uneasy for a while, then she put on her shawl and streaked off to the grove. I wanted some wild grass, so I went along, but Babylon didn't see me. She waited in the grove till Mr. Lawrence rode by, when she hailed him.
"He stammered a little, and said something about it being his custom to ride every morning, and at that she laughed right out in her tantalizing way. Oh, she's awful tantalizing is Babylon.
"'You'd better tell the truth,' says she; 'you didn't believe what I told you last night, and you've been to see with your own eyes. Did you meet them?'
"'Miss Jessie and her friend have just entered Mrs. Bosworth's gate,' he answered, cross as two sticks.
"'Of course,' says Babylon; 'I tell you he is her lover. It was to be expected she'd visit him during the sickness brought on by jealousy. You see a grand flirtation has its inconveniences.'
"He shook uneasily in his saddle, but she hadn't any pity, and went on at an awful rate about all of you. Then she tried the old dodge--she was his friend--he might trust her. She went up to him and reached her hand, but he didn't seem to see it.