SosaidMissBrowningonthenightinquestion；herhandofcardslyingbyheronthegreenbaize—coveredtable，whileshemunchedtherichpound—cakeofacertainMrsDawes，latelycometoinhabitHollingford。
’Matrimony’snotsobadasyouthinkfor，MissBrowning，’saidMrsGoodenough，standingupfortheholyestateintowhichshehadtwiceentered。’IfI
hadha’seenNancy，Ishouldha’givenhermymindverydifferent。It’sagreatthingtobeabletosettlewhatyou’llhavefordinner，withoutneveraoneinterferingwithyou。’
’Ifthat’sall！’saidMissBrowning，drawingherselfup，’Icandothat；
and，perhaps，betterthanawomanwhohasahusbandtoplease。’