Jane, disappointed that the baby's name remained a mystery, resolved
to set out on a voyage of discovery. Accordingly, as soon as her
cousin was gone, she asked Emily if she had not been saying that Ada
wanted some more cotton for her sampler.
'Yes,' said Emily, 'but I am not going to walk all the way to Mrs.
Appleton's this afternoon.'
'Shall I go?' said Jane. 'Ada, run and fetch your pattern.' Emily
and Ada were much obliged by Jane's disinterested offer, and in a
quarter of an hour Ada's thoughts and hands were busy in Mrs.
Appleton's drawer of many-coloured cotton.
'What a pity this is about Mrs. Naylor's baby,' began Jane.
'It is a sad story indeed, Miss Jane, I am sure it must be grievous
to Mr. Devereux,' said Mrs. Appleton. 'Betsy Wall said he had been
there three times about it.'
'Ah! we all know that Walls have ears,' said Jane; 'how that Betsy
does run about gossiping!'
'Yes, Miss Jane, there she bides all day long at the stile gaping;
not a stitch does she do for her mother; I cannot tell what is to be
the end of it.'
'And do you know what the child's name is to be, Mrs. Appleton?'
'No, Miss Jane,' answered Mrs. Appleton.
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