Mrs. Dodd suppressed a start, and (perhaps to gain time before replying
sincerely) said she had not the honour of knowing what "spoony" meant.

"Why, sighs for her, and dies for her, and fancies she is prettier than
Miss Hardie. He must be over head and ears to think that."

"Fie, child! " was the answer. "If I thought so, I should withdraw from
their acquaintance. Excuse me; I must put on my bonnet at once, not to
lose this fine afternoon."

Edward did not relish her remark: it menaced more Spoons than one.
However, he was not the man to be cast down at a word: he lighted a
cigar, and strolled towards Hardie's house. Mr. Hardie, senior, had left
three days ago on a visit to London; Miss Hardie received him; he passed
the afternoon in calm complacency, listening reverently to her
admonitions, and looking her softly out of countenance, and into earthly
affections, with his lion eyes.

Meantime his remark, so far from really seeming foolish to Mrs. Dodd, was
the true reason for her leaving him so abruptly "Even this dear slow
Thing sees it," thought she. She must talk to Julia more seriously, and
would go to the school at once. She went up-stairs, and put on her bonnet
and shawl before the glass; then moulded on her gloves, and came down
equipped. On the stairs was a large window, looking upon the open field;
she naturally cast her eyes through it in the direction she was going,
and what did she see but a young lady and gentleman coming slowly down
the path towards the villa. Mrs. Dodd bit her lip with vexation, and
looked keenly at them, to divine on what terms they were. And the more
she looked the more uneasy she grew.