The anxiety about sister Priscilla, which had grown rather active
by the time the coral necklace was clasped, was happily ended by the
entrance of that cheerful-looking lady herself, with a face made
blowsy by cold and damp. After the first questions and greetings,
she turned to Nancy, and surveyed her from head to foot- then
wheeled her round, to ascertain that the back view was equally
faultless.
'What do you think o' these gowns, aunt Osgood?' said Priscilla,
while Nancy helped her to unrobe.
'Very handsome indeed, niece,' said Mrs Osgood, with a slight
increase of formality. She always thought niece Priscilla too rough.
'I'm obliged to have the same as Nancy, you know, for all I'm
five years older and it makes me look yallow; for she never will
have anything without I have mine just like it, because she wants us
to look like sisters. And I tell her folks 'ull think it's my weakness
makes me fancy as I shall look pretty in what she looks pretty in. For
I am ugly- there's no denying that: I feature my father's family. But,
law! I don't mind, do you?' Priscilla here turned to the Miss Gunns,
rattling on in too much preoccupation with the delight of talking,
to notice that her candour was not appreciated. 'The pretty uns do for
flycatchers- they keep the men off us. I've no opinion o' the men,
Miss Gunn- I don't know what you have. And as for fretting and stewing
about what they'll think of you from morning till night, and making
your life uneasy about what they're doing when they're out o' your
sight- as I tell Nancy, it's a folly no woman need be guilty of, if
she's got a good father and a good home: let her leave it to them as
have got no fortin, and can't help themselves.
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