But the old lady was deaf and did not hear.

"Back off, ladies," I heard the guard say, just as the doors closed around me.

I don't want the ladies to hear about it and be distressed.

"I should imagine that a lady like you has heard little about his military exploits."

Low as we spoke beneath our breath, I think the lady heard us.

Anyway, when the old lady heard about it, she wasn't surprised.

"The sort of things that young ladies like you and Joanna should not hear."

The words he said were ones no lady should hear from a man.

"It will not do if my lady hears that I have slipped into town and gone back without seeing her."

However, she did not realize that the old lady had never even heard about the family connection.