“Oh, she does. She’s told me time and again that she’d love to see John settled
before her time comes. She’s always giving him hints—you heard her yourself
the other day. I thought I’d ha’ gone through the floor.”
“It’s beyond me,” said Anne helplessly. She thought of Ludovic Speed. But
the cases were not parallel. John Douglas was not a man of Ludovic’s type.
“You should show more spirit, Janet,” she went on resolutely. “Why didn’t
you send him about his business long ago?”
“I couldn’t,” said poor Janet pathetically. “You see, Anne, I’ve always been
awful fond of John. He might just as well keep coming as not, for there was
never anybody else I’d want, so it didn’t matter.”
“But it might have made him speak out like a man,” urged Anne.
Janet shook her head.
“No, I guess not. I was afraid to try, anyway, for fear he’d think I meant it and
just go. I suppose I’m a poor-spirited creature, but that is how I feel. And I can’t
help it.”
“Oh, you COULD help it, Janet. It isn’t too late yet. Take a firm stand. Let
that man know you are not going to endure his shillyshallying any longer. I’LL
back you up.”
“I dunno,” said Janet hopelessly. “I dunno if I could ever get up enough
spunk. Things have drifted so long. But I’ll think it over.”
Anne felt that she was disappointed in John Douglas. She had liked him so
well, and she had not thought him the sort of man who would play fast and loose
with a woman’s feelings for twenty years. He certainly should be taught a
lesson, and Anne felt vindictively that she would enjoy seeing the process.
Therefore she was delighted when Janet told her, as they were going to prayer-
meeting the next night, that she meant to show some “sperrit.”
“I’ll let John Douglas see I’m not going to be trodden on any longer.”
“You are perfectly right,” said Anne emphatically.
When prayer-meeting was over John Douglas came up with his usual request.
Janet looked frightened but resolute.
“No, thank you,” she said icily. “I know the road home pretty well alone. I
ought to, seeing I’ve been traveling it for forty years. So you needn’t trouble
yourself, MR. Douglas.”
Anne was looking at John Douglas; and, in that brilliant moonlight, she saw
the last twist of the rack again. Without a word he turned and strode down the
road.