CHAPTER VIII . MISS CORNELIA INTERVENES Miss Cornelia descended upon the manse the next day and cross-questioned Mary , who , being a young person of considerable discernment and astuteness , told her story simple and truthfully , with an entire absence of complaint or bravado . Miss Cornelia was more favourably impressed than she had expected to be , but deemed it her duty to be severe . `` Do you think , '' she said sternly , `` that you showed your gratitude to this family , who have been far too kind to you , by insulting and chasing one of their little friends as you did yesterday ? '' `` Say , it was rotten mean of me , '' admitted Mary easily . `` I dunno what possessed me . That old codfish seemed to come in so blamed handy . But I was awful sorry -- I cried last night after I went to bed about it , honest I did . You ask Una if I did n't . I would n't tell her what for 'cause I was ashamed of it , and then she cried , too , because she was afraid someone had hurt my feelings . Laws , I ai n't got any feelings to hurt worth speaking of . What worries me is why Mrs. Wiley hai n't been hunting for me . It ai n't like her . '' Miss Cornelia herself thought it rather peculiar , but she merely admonished Mary sharply not to take any further liberties with the minister 's codfish , and went to report progress at Ingleside . `` If the child 's story is true the matter ought to be looked into , '' she said . `` I know something about that Wiley woman , believe ME . Marshall used to be well acquainted with her when he lived over-harbour . I heard him say something last summer about her and a home child she had -- likely this very Mary-creature . He said some one told him she was working the child to death and not half feeding and clothing it . You know , Anne dearie , it has always been my habit neither to make nor meddle with those over-harbour folks .
But I shall send XXXXX over to-morrow to find out the rights of this if he can .
'cause Anne Cornelia Ingleside Marshall Una VIII Wiley hai night