se
speaking-trumpets, and who are so fidgety themselves that they won't
use their speaking-trumpets properly. Miss Todd greatly dreaded the
speaking-trumpet; she did not usually care one straw for Mrs. Leake's
tongue, nor much for her carriage and horses, or county standing; but
the Littlebath world called on Mrs. Leake; and Miss Todd being at
Rome did as Romans do.

"I'll take her for five minutes," said Miss Todd, as, driving through
the village of Rissbury, she finished her description of the lady;
"and then do you take her up for five more; and then I'll go on
again; and then we'll go away." Adela agreed, though with a heavy
heart; for what subject of conversation could she find on which to
dilate to Mrs. Leake through a speaking-trumpet for five minutes?

"Miss who?" said Mrs. Leake, putting her trumpet down from her ear
that she might stare the better at Adela. "Oh, Miss Gaunt--very
well--I hope you'll like Littlebath, Miss Gaunt."

"Miss Gaunt-let!" shouted Miss Todd, with a voice that would have
broken the trumpet into shivers had it not been made of the very best
metal.

"Never hollo, my dear. When you do that I can't hear at all. It
only makes a noise like a dog barking. You'll find the young men
about Littlebath very good-natured, Miss Gaunt. They are rather
empty-headed--but I think young ladies generally like them all the
better for that."

Adela felt herself called on to make no answer to this, as it was not
her turn at the trumpet.

"What news have you heard lately, Mrs. Leake?" asked Miss Todd. The
great thing was to make Mrs. Leake talk instead of having to talk to
her.

"Amuse! No, I don't think they do amuse any one very much. But then
that's not their line. I suppose they can dance, most of them; and
those who've got any money may do for husbands--as the world goes. We
musn't be too particular; must we, Miss Gaunt?"

"Miss Gaunt--let," whispered Miss Todd into the trumpet, separating
the sounds well, so that they should not clash on the unsusceptible
tympanum of her friend's ear.

"Let, let, let! I think I can hear anybody almost better than I can
you, Miss Todd. I don't know how it is, but I never can hear the
people out of the town as well as I can my own set. It's habit I take
it."

"They're used to deaf people in the country, I suppose," said Miss
Todd, who, with all her good nature, didn't choose to be over much
put upon.

"Ah, I can't hear you," said Mrs. Leake. She had, howeve