r him when his mother is gone--a great comfort, Miss Shirley."

"Janet is a lovely woman," said Anne warmly.

"Lovely! A beautiful character," assented Mrs. Douglas. "And a perfect
housekeeper--something I never was. My health would not permit it, Miss
Shirley. I am indeed thankful that John has made such a wise choice. I
hope and believe that he will be happy. He is my only son, Miss Shirley,
and his happiness lies very near my heart."

"Of course," said Anne stupidly. For the first time in her life she was
stupid. Yet she could not imagine why. She seemed to have absolutely
nothing to say to this sweet, smiling, angelic old lady who was patting
her hand so kindly.

"Come and see me soon again, dear Janet," said Mrs. Douglas lovingly,
when they left. "You don't come half often enough. But then I suppose
John will be bringing you here to stay all the time one of these days."
Anne, happening to glance at John Douglas, as his mother spoke, gave a
positive start of dismay. He looked as a tortured man might look when
his tormentors gave the rack the last turn of possible endurance. She
felt sure he must be ill and hurried poor blushing Janet away.

"Isn't old Mrs. Douglas a sweet woman?" asked Janet, as they went down
the road.

"M--m," answered Anne absently. She was wondering why John Douglas had
looked so.

"She's been a terrible sufferer," said Janet feelingly. "She takes
terrible spells. It keeps John all worried up. He's scared to leave home
for fear his mother will take a spell and nobody there but the hired
girl."

Chapter XXXIII

"He Just Kept Coming and Coming"

Three days later Anne came home from school and found Janet crying.
Tears and Janet seemed so incongruous that Anne was honestly alarmed.

"Oh, what is the matter?" she cried anxiously.

"I'm--I'm forty today," sobbed Janet.

"Well, you were nearly that yesterday and it didn't hurt," comforted
Anne, trying not to smile.

"But--but," went on Janet with a big gulp, "John Douglas won't ask me to
marry him."

"Oh, but he will," said Anne lamely. "You must give him time, Janet

"Time!" said Janet with indescribable scorn. "He has had twenty years.
How much time does he want?"

"Do you mean that John Douglas has been coming to see you for twenty
years?"

"He has. And he has never so much as mentioned marriage to me. And I
don't believe he ever will now. I've never said a word to a mortal about
it, but it seems to me I've just got