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XXVI. Around the Bend
DoyoucareanythingforGilbert?”
“Eversomuchasafriendandnotabitinthewayyoumean,”saidAnnecalmlyanddecidedly;shealsothoughtshewasspeakingsincerely.
Dianasighed.Shewished,somehow,thatAnnehadanswereddifferently.
“Don’tyoumeanEVERtobemarried,Anne?”
“Perhaps...someday...whenImeettherightone,”saidAnne,smilingdreamilyupatthemoonlight.
“Buthowcanyoubesurewhenyoudomeettherightone?”persistedDiana.
“Oh,Ishouldknowhim...SOMETHINGwouldtellme.Youknowwhatmyidealis,Diana.”
“Butpeople’sidealschangesometimes.”
“Minewon’t.AndICOULDN’Tcareforanymanwhodidn’tfulfillit.”
“Whatifyounevermeethim?”
“ThenIshalldieanoldmaid,”wasthecheerfulresponse.“Idaresayitisn’tthehardestdeathbyanymeans.”
“Oh,Isupposethedyingwouldbeeasyenough;it’sthelivinganoldmaidIshouldn’tlike,”saidDiana,withnointentionofbeinghumorous.“AlthoughIwouldn’tmindbeinganoldmaidVERYmuchifIcouldbeonelikeMissLavendar.ButInevercouldbe.WhenI’mforty-fiveI’llbehorriblyfat.Andwhiletheremightbesomeromanceaboutathinoldmaidtherecouldn’tpossiblybeanyaboutafatone.Oh,mindyou,NelsonAtkinsproposedtoRubyGillisthreeweeksago.Rubytoldmeallaboutit.Shesayssheneverhadanyintentionoftakinghim,becauseanyonewhomarriedhimwillhavetogoinwiththeoldfolks;butRubysaysthathemadesuchaperfectlybeautifulandromanticproposalthatitsimplysweptheroffherfeet.
