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[Perfunctorily]

Too bad.

[Thinking vindictively]

Serve her right, the old scandal-monger, after the way she’s gossiped about Nina!

[With assumed carelessness]

Just a little indigestion. Nothing serious but it annoys her terribly.

[Thinking frightenedly]

That dull pain she complains of I don’t like it  and she won’t see anyone but old Doctor Tibbetts  she’s sixty-eight  I can’t help fearing  no!

[Bored—vaguely]

Well, I suppose you’ve got to be careful of every little thing when you get to her age.

[Positively bristling]

Her age? Mother isn’t so old!

[Surprised]

Over sixty-five, isn’t she?

[Indignantly]

You’re quite out there! She’s still under sixty-five—and in health and spirits she isn’t more than fifty! Everyone remarks that!