’IfIgotoMrsDawes，andsherepeatsthemtome，IshallslapherfaceorboxherearsI’mafraid，forIcouldn’tstandtalesbeingtoldofpoorMary’sdaughter，asiftheywerejusta，stirringpieceofnewslikeJamesHorrocks’pigwithtwoheads，’saidMissBrowning，meditatingaloud。’Thatwoulddoharminsteadofgood。Phoebe，I’mreallysorryI
boxedyourears，onlyIshoulddoitagainifyousaidthesamethings。’
Phoebesatedownbyhersister，andtookholdofoneofherwitheredhands，andbegancaressingit，whichwasherwayofacceptinghersister’sexpressionofregret。’IfIspeaktoMolly，thechildwilldenyit，ifshe’shalfasgood—for—nothingastheysay；andifshe’snot，she’llonlyworryherselftodeath。No，thatwon’tdo。MrsGoodenough—butshe’sadonkey；andifIconvincedher，shecouldneverconvinceanyoneelse。No；MrsDawes，whotoldyou，shalltellme，andI’lltiemyhandstogetherinsidemymuff，andbindmyselfovertokeepthepeace。AndwhenI’veheardwhatistobeheard，I’llputthematterintoMrGibson’shands。That’swhatI’lldo。Soit’snouseyoursayinganythingagainstit，Phoebe，forIshan’tattendtoyou。’
MissBrowningwenttoMrsDawes’，andbegancivillyenoughtomakeinquiriesaboutthereportscurrentinHollingfordaboutMollyandMrPreston；andMrsDawesfellintothesnare，andtoldalltherealandfictitiouscircumstancesofthestoryincirculation，quiteunawareofthestormthatwasgatheringandreadytofalluponherassoonasshestoppedspeaking。ButshehadnotthelonghabitofreverenceforMissBrowningwhichwouldhavekeptsomanyHollingfordladiesfromjustifyingthemselvesifshefoundfault。
MrsDawesstoodupforherselfandherownveracity，bringingoutfreshscandal，whichshesaidshedidnotbelieve，butthatmanydid；andadducingsomuchevidenceastothetruthofwhatshehadsaidanddidbelieve，thatMissBrowningwasalmostquelled，andsatesilentandmiserableattheendofMrsDawes’justificationofherself。