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XIV. A Danger Averted
“EvenLeviBoulterorLorenzoWhitewouldneverstooptothat,tightfistedastheyare.Theywouldhavetoomuchrespectforpublicopinion.”
PublicopinionwascertainlydownonJudsonParkerwhenthefactsbecameknown,butthatdidnothelpmattersmuch.Judsonchuckledtohimselfanddefiedit,andtheImproversweretryingtoreconcilethemselvestotheprospectofseeingtheprettiestpartoftheNewbridgeroaddefacedbyadvertisements,whenAnnerosequietlyatthepresident’scallforreportsofcommitteesontheoccasionofthenextmeetingoftheSociety,andannouncedthatMr.JudsonParkerhadinstructedhertoinformtheSocietythathewasNOTgoingtorenthisfencestothePatentMedicineCompany.
JaneandDianastaredasiftheyfoundithardtobelievetheirears.Parliamentaryetiquette,whichwasgenerallyverystrictlyenforcedintheA.V.I.S.,forbadethemgivinginstantventtotheircuriosity,butaftertheSocietyadjournedAnnewasbesiegedforexplanations.Annehadnoexplanationtogive.JudsonParkerhadovertakenherontheroadtheprecedingeveningandtoldherthathehaddecidedtohumortheA.V.I.S.initspeculiarprejudiceagainstpatentmedicineadvertisements.ThatwasallAnnewouldsay,thenoreverafterwards,anditwasthesimpletruth;butwhenJaneAndrews,onherwayhome,confidedtoOliverSloaneherfirmbeliefthattherewasmorebehindJudsonParker’smysteriouschangeofheartthanAnneShirleyhadrevealed,shespokethetruthalso.
AnnehadbeendowntooldMrs.
