Margaret did not want to encourage him to go on by replying to him, and so prolonging the discussion before the mother. So she turned to her and asked,
"How is old Betty Barnes?"
"I don't know," said the woman rather shortly. "We'se not friends."
"Why not?" asked Margaret, who had formerly been the peace-maker of the village.
"She stole my cat."
"Did she know it was yours?"

Margaret did not want to encourage him to go on, so she turned to the mother and asked, 'How is old Betty Barnes?'
'I don't know,' said the woman rather shortly. 'We'se not friends. She stole my cat.'
'Did she know it was yours?'
