It gathered fresh detail every week . Adelia was getting her clothes ready ; she was to be married in seal-brown cashmere ; Vinnie Lawrence at Valley Centre was making it for her ; she had got a new hat with a long ostrich plume ; some said white , some said grey . Young Thomas kept wondering who the man could be , for he was convinced that Adelia was going to marry somebody . More than that , once he caught himself wondering enviously . Adelia was a nice-looking woman , and he had not so far heard of any probable housekeeper . `` Dang it all , '' said Young Thomas to himself in desperation . `` I would n't care if it was true . '' His married sister from Carlisle heard the story and came over to investigate . Young Thomas denied it shortly , and his sister scolded . She had devoutly hoped it was true , she said , and it would have been a great weight off her mind . `` This house is in a disgraceful condition , Thomas , '' she said severely . `` It would break Mother 's heart if she could rise out of her grave to see it . And Adelia Williams is a perfect housekeeper . '' `` You did n't use to think so much of the Williams crowd , '' said Young Thomas drily . `` Oh , some of them do n't amount to much , '' admitted Maria , `` but Adelia is all right . '' Catching sight of an odd look on Young Thomas 's face , she added hastily , `` Thomas Everett , I believe it 's true after all . Now , is it ? For mercy 's sake do n't be so sly . You might tell me , your own and only sister , if it is . '' `` Oh , shut up , '' was Young Thomas 's unfeeling reply to his own and only sister .
Young Thomas told himself that night that Valley View gossip would drive him into an asylum yet XXXXX it did n't let up .
after at for from if in of off on to