Come in and I 'll give you some flowers . '' `` Thank you , but I am not allowed to go off the grounds , '' said Charlotte firmly , `` and I think I 'd rather not have any flowers because the matron might want to know where I got them , and then she would have this gap closed up . I live in mortal dread for fear it will be closed anyhow . It 's very uncomfortable -- living in mortal dread . '' The Tall Lady laughed a very jolly laugh . `` Yes , I should think it would be , '' she agreed . `` I have n't had that experience . '' Then they had a jolly talk , and every evening after that Charlotte went to the gap and stroked the Very Handsome Cat and chatted to the Tall Lady . `` Do you live all alone in that big house ? '' she asked wonderingly one day . `` All alone , '' said the Tall Lady . `` Did you always live alone ? '' `` No . I had a sister living with me once . But I do n't want to talk about her . You 'll oblige me , Charlotte , by not talking about her . '' `` I wo n't then , '' agreed Charlotte . `` I can understand why people do n't like to have their sisters talked about sometimes . Lily Mitchell has a big sister who was sent to jail for stealing . Of course Lily does n't like to talk about her . ''
The Tall Lady XXXXX a little bitterly .
Come Did Do Thank chatted give laughed oblige think understand