They organized bazaars and presided over sewing circles, they chaperoned balls and picnics, they knew who made good matches and who did not, who drank secretly, who were to have babies and when.

她们组织义卖和缝纫会，她们陪伴姑娘们参加舞会和野餐，她们知道谁找的对象好，谁的不好，谁常常偷着喝酒，谁要生孩子了和什么时候生，等等。