Every woman around the `` Rising Star '' felt that Mrs. George had some news worth listening to , and there was an expectant silence while she pulled out her chair and settled herself at the quilt . She was a tall , thin woman with a long pale face and liquid green eyes . As she looked around the circle she had the air of a cat daintily licking its chops over some titbit . `` I suppose , '' she said , `` that you have heard the news ? '' She knew perfectly well that they had not . Every other woman at the frame stopped quilting . Mrs. Eben came to the door with a pan of puffy , smoking-hot soda biscuits in her hand . Sara stopped counting the custard dishes , and turned her ripely-colored face over her shoulder . Even the black cat , at her feet , ceased preening his fur . Mrs. George felt that the undivided attention of her audience was hers . `` Baxter Brothers have failed , '' she said , her green eyes shooting out flashes of light . `` Failed DISGRACEFULLY ! '' She paused for a moment ; but , since her hearers were as yet speechless from surprise , she went on . `` George came home from Newbridge , just before I left , with the news . You could have knocked me down with a feather . I should have thought that firm was as steady as the Rock of Gibraltar ! But they 're ruined -- absolutely ruined . Louisa , dear , can you find me a good needle ? '' `` Louisa , dear , '' had set her biscuits down with a sharp thud , reckless of results . A sharp , metallic tinkle sounded at the closet where Sara had struck the edge of her tray against a shelf .
The sound seemed XXXXX loosen the paralyzed tongues , and everybody began talking and exclaiming at once .
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