I told Mrs. Elliott so right to her face . '' `` What did Carl do ? '' cried Faith . `` Well , they say -- now , mind , I 'm only telling you what people say -- so there 's no use in your blaming me for it -- that Carl and a lot of other boys were fishing eels over the bridge one evening last week . Mrs. Carr drove past in that old rattletrap buggy of hers with the open back . And Carl he just up and threw a big eel into the back . When poor old Mrs. Carr was driving up the hill by Ingleside that eel came squirming out between her feet . She thought it was a snake and she just give one awful screech and stood up and jumped clean over the wheels . The horse bolted , but it went home and no damage was done . But Mrs. Carr jarred her legs most terrible , and has had nervous spasms ever since whenever she thinks of the eel . Say , it was a rotten trick to play on the poor old soul . She 's a decent body , if she is as queer as Dick 's hat band . '' Faith and Una looked at each other again . This was a matter for the Good-Conduct Club . They would not talk it over with Mary . `` There goes your pa , '' said Mary as Mr. Meredith passed them , `` and never seeing us no more 'n if we were n't here . Well , I 'm getting so 's I do n't mind it . But there are folks who do . '' Mr. Meredith had not seen them , but he was not walking along in his usual dreamy and abstracted fashion . He strode up the hill in agitation and distress .
Mrs. Alec Davis had just told him the story XXXXX Carl and the eel .
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