04-02-02-织工马南 [15]
，while talking to each other all the time．Nancy met her aunt，Mrs Osgood，who introduced her to some visitors of hers．The Misses Gunn were two young ladies who were not beauti－ful，but dressed very fashionably．
Just then Nancy's older sister Priscilla arrived．She was a large，cheerful girl，with a round face and a nose pink with cold．As they were changing their clothes，Priscilla said to Mrs Osgood，'Look at our dresses，aunt！Of course Nancy looks beautiful in hers，but this colour makes me look yellow！ Nan－cy says we must wear the same dresses，because we're sisters，although I'm five years older！I'm ugly，I know I am．But I don't mind！'she turned to Mrs Osgood's two visitors．'In my opinion the pretty girls are useful－I'm sure you agree－to catch the men．I don't think men are worth worrying about．Any woman with a good father and a good home had better stay single．That's what I'm going to do，anyway．We ugly girls don't need husbands！'
Mrs Osgood stood up and said quickly，'My visitors and I should go downstairs now．Priscilla and Nancy，we'll see you later．'And the three ladies hurried out．
'Oh really，Priscilla！'cried Nancy，when they were alone．'You never think before you speak！ I'm sure the Misses Gunn thought you were very impolite！You almost told them they were ugly！'
'Did I？'asked Priscilla in surprise．'Well，that's the way I am．I always tell the truth．But I'm the ugly one—just look at me！'
'Priscilla，you know I asked you to choose the dresses，'replied Nancy worriedly．'I don't mind what colour I wear．'
'You look lovely in this colour，dear child！You know you always have whatever you want in the end，although you never give orders or shout about it．I'm looking forward to seeing you married．It'll be fun watching you make your husband do exactly what you want．'
'Don't say that，'answered Nancy， blushing． 'You know I'm never going to get married．'
Priscilla laughed．'I'm the one who'll stay single．And if you don't like Godfrey Cass，well，there are plenty of other young men．Come，let's go downstairs now．'
Although Priscilla was right in saying she was not good-looking，she was very popular among her neighbours because she was so cheerful and sensible．And Nancy was not only con－sidered to be the most beautiful girl in and around Raveloe，but also one of the most intelligent．
Seats at the dining－table had been kept for the Lammeter sisters．Priscilla was taken to sit between her father and the Squire．Nancy felt herself blushing again as Godfrey Cass came to lead her to a seat between himself and the vicar，Mr Crack－enthorp She knew that if she married Godfrey，she would one day be the most important woman in Raveloe，the Squire's wife But she repeated firmly to herself that she could not mar－ry a man of bad character．
As she sat down，the vicar，who was always polite to ladies，said with a smile，'Ah，Miss Nancy，you're looking lovely this evening．Isn't she，Go dfrey？'
Godfrey made no reply，and avoided looking at Nancy． There was too much he wanted to say to her．But the Squire， who al－ways enjoyed his parties and was feeling extremely cheerful，was rather impatient with his son．He thought he had better speak，if Godfrey was too shy to do it himself．
'That's right，'the Squire said loudly．'When I look at Miss Nancy here，I think she's more beautiful than any girl I've ev-er seen．'
While they were eating and drinking，people around the table were listening with interest to the Squire's words．' Per－haps Godfrey will marry Nancy after all！'the vicar's wife whispered to Mrs Osgood．Mr Lammeter's back was very straight as he looked across the table at his daughter．He was a serious，careful gentleman，who considered the Lammeters a better family than the Casses．He had already decided that Godfrey must change his way of life before Nancy could possi-bly marry him．
Just then Dr Kimble called across the table，'Miss Nancy，will you save a dance for me？'
'Come，come，Kimble，'said the Squire，'let the young ones enjoy themselves．My son Godfrey'll be angry if you take Miss Nancy away．I expect he's asked her for the first dance already．Haven't you
Just then Nancy's older sister Priscilla arrived．She was a large，cheerful girl，with a round face and a nose pink with cold．As they were changing their clothes，Priscilla said to Mrs Osgood，'Look at our dresses，aunt！Of course Nancy looks beautiful in hers，but this colour makes me look yellow！ Nan－cy says we must wear the same dresses，because we're sisters，although I'm five years older！I'm ugly，I know I am．But I don't mind！'she turned to Mrs Osgood's two visitors．'In my opinion the pretty girls are useful－I'm sure you agree－to catch the men．I don't think men are worth worrying about．Any woman with a good father and a good home had better stay single．That's what I'm going to do，anyway．We ugly girls don't need husbands！'
Mrs Osgood stood up and said quickly，'My visitors and I should go downstairs now．Priscilla and Nancy，we'll see you later．'And the three ladies hurried out．
'Oh really，Priscilla！'cried Nancy，when they were alone．'You never think before you speak！ I'm sure the Misses Gunn thought you were very impolite！You almost told them they were ugly！'
'Did I？'asked Priscilla in surprise．'Well，that's the way I am．I always tell the truth．But I'm the ugly one—just look at me！'
'Priscilla，you know I asked you to choose the dresses，'replied Nancy worriedly．'I don't mind what colour I wear．'
'You look lovely in this colour，dear child！You know you always have whatever you want in the end，although you never give orders or shout about it．I'm looking forward to seeing you married．It'll be fun watching you make your husband do exactly what you want．'
'Don't say that，'answered Nancy， blushing． 'You know I'm never going to get married．'
Priscilla laughed．'I'm the one who'll stay single．And if you don't like Godfrey Cass，well，there are plenty of other young men．Come，let's go downstairs now．'
Although Priscilla was right in saying she was not good-looking，she was very popular among her neighbours because she was so cheerful and sensible．And Nancy was not only con－sidered to be the most beautiful girl in and around Raveloe，but also one of the most intelligent．
Seats at the dining－table had been kept for the Lammeter sisters．Priscilla was taken to sit between her father and the Squire．Nancy felt herself blushing again as Godfrey Cass came to lead her to a seat between himself and the vicar，Mr Crack－enthorp She knew that if she married Godfrey，she would one day be the most important woman in Raveloe，the Squire's wife But she repeated firmly to herself that she could not mar－ry a man of bad character．
As she sat down，the vicar，who was always polite to ladies，said with a smile，'Ah，Miss Nancy，you're looking lovely this evening．Isn't she，Go dfrey？'
Godfrey made no reply，and avoided looking at Nancy． There was too much he wanted to say to her．But the Squire， who al－ways enjoyed his parties and was feeling extremely cheerful，was rather impatient with his son．He thought he had better speak，if Godfrey was too shy to do it himself．
'That's right，'the Squire said loudly．'When I look at Miss Nancy here，I think she's more beautiful than any girl I've ev-er seen．'
While they were eating and drinking，people around the table were listening with interest to the Squire's words．' Per－haps Godfrey will marry Nancy after all！'the vicar's wife whispered to Mrs Osgood．Mr Lammeter's back was very straight as he looked across the table at his daughter．He was a serious，careful gentleman，who considered the Lammeters a better family than the Casses．He had already decided that Godfrey must change his way of life before Nancy could possi-bly marry him．
Just then Dr Kimble called across the table，'Miss Nancy，will you save a dance for me？'
'Come，come，Kimble，'said the Squire，'let the young ones enjoy themselves．My son Godfrey'll be angry if you take Miss Nancy away．I expect he's asked her for the first dance already．Haven't you