The quilting came off on Saturday afternoon , when Sara could be home from school . All Mrs. Eben 's particular friends were ranged around the quilt , and tongues and fingers flew . Sara flitted about , helping her aunt with the supper preparations . She was in the room , getting the custard dishes out of the cupboard , when Mrs. George Pye arrived . Mrs. George had a genius for being late . She was later than usual to-day , and she looked excited . 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 XXXXX a feather .
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