And when in my turn I propounded a question
and inquired whether she ever again saw the boy who besieged the
bride's door with a message, she graciously replied:
"The boy; let me see. Yes, I saw him twice; once in a back hall
talking earnestly to Mr. Jeffrey, and secondly at the carriage
door just before the bridal party rode away. It was Mrs. Jeffrey
who was talking to him then, and I wondered to see him look so
pleased when everybody in and about the house was pale as ashes."
"Do you know the name of that boy?" I carelessly inquired.
"His name? O no. He is one of Raucher's waiters; the curly-haired
one. You see him everywhere; but I don't know his name. Do you
flatter yourself that he can tell you anything that other people
don't know? Why, if he knew the least thing that wasn't in
everybody's mouth, you would have heard from him long ago. Those
men are the greatest gossips in town" - I wonder what she thought
of herself, - "and so proud to be of any importance." This was true
enough, though I did not admit it at the time; and when the interview
was closed and I went away, I have no doubt she considered me quite
the most heavy person she had ever met. But this did not disturb me.
The little facts she had stated were new to me and, repeating my
former method, I was already busy arranging them in my mind.
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