`` I do not see if he had a dozen wives how they could have prevented Mrs. Drew from using up her tough old gander for the wedding-feast , '' said Susan stubbornly . `` They say that was her husband 's doing , '' said Miss Cornelia . `` Jacob Drew is a conceited , stingy , domineering creature . '' `` And they do say he and his wife detest each other -- which does not seem to me the proper way for married folks to get along . But then , of course , I have had no experience along that line , '' said Susan , tossing her head . `` And I am not one to blame everything on the men . Mrs. Drew is mean enough herself . They say that the only thing she was ever known to give away was a crock of butter made out of cream a rat had fell into . She contributed it to a church social . Nobody found out about the rat until afterwards . '' `` Fortunately , all the people the Merediths have offended so far are Methodists , '' said Miss Cornelia . `` That Jerry went to the Methodist prayer-meeting one night about a fortnight ago and sat beside old William Marsh who got up as usual and testified with fearful groans . ` Do you feel any better now ? '' whispered Jerry when William sat down . Poor Jerry meant to be sympathetic , but Mr. Marsh thought he was impertinent and is furious at him . Of course , Jerry had no business to be in a Methodist prayer-meeting at all . But they go where they like . '' `` I hope they will not offend Mrs. Alec Davis of the Harbour Head , '' said Susan . `` She is a very touchy woman , I understand , but she is very well off and pays the most of any one to the salary . I have heard that she says the Merediths are the worst brought up children she ever saw . ''
`` Every word you say convinces me more and more that the Merediths belong XXXXX the race that knows Joseph , '' said Mistress Anne decidedly .
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