DuringthisintervalBabemployedherself，muchtoherownsatisfaction，incross-questioningSusan。Shewasratherprovokedindeedthatshecouldnotlearnexactlyhoweachoftheladieswasdressed，andwhattherewastobefordinnerattheAbbey。andshewascuriousbeyondmeasuretofindoutwhatMissSomersmeant，bysayingthatshewouldcallatMr。Price’scottageatsixo’clockintheevening。Whatdoyouthinkshecouldmean？
Ithoughtshemeantwhatshesaid，repliedSusan，thatshewouldcomehereatsixo’clock。
Ay，that’sasplainasapike-staff，saidBarbara。butwhatelsedidshemean，thinkyou？People，youknow，don’talwaysmeanexactly，downright，neithermorenorlessthanwhattheysay。
Notalways，saidSusan，withanarchsmile，whichconvincedBarbarathatshewasnotquiteasimpleton。
NOTALWAYS，repeatedBarbaracolouring，——oh，thenIsupposeyouhavesomeguessatwhatMissSomersmeant。