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XXIII. Miss Lavendar’s Romance
Andweweretohavebeenmarriedthenextspring.Ihadmyweddingdressmade,althoughnobodybutmotherandStepheneverknewTHAT.We’dbeenengagedinawayalmostallourlives,youmightsay.WhenStephenwasalittleboyhismotherwouldbringhimherewhenshecametoseemymother;andthesecondtimeheevercame...hewasnineandIwassix...hetoldmeoutinthegardenthathehadprettywellmadeuphismindtomarrymewhenhegrewup.IrememberthatIsaid‘Thankyou’;andwhenhewasgoneItoldmotherverygravelythattherewasagreatweightoffmymind,becauseIwasn’tfrightenedanymoreabouthavingtobeanoldmaid.Howpoormotherlaughed!”
“Andwhatwentwrong?”askedAnnebreathlessly.
“Wehadjustastupid,silly,commonplacequarrel.Socommonplacethat,ifyou’llbelieveme,Idon’tevenrememberjusthowitbegan.Ihardlyknowwhowasthemoretoblameforit.Stephendidreallybeginit,butIsupposeIprovokedhimbysomefoolishnessofmine.Hehadarivalortwo,yousee.Iwasvainandcoquettishandlikedtoteasehimalittle.Hewasaveryhigh-strung,sensitivefellow.Well,wepartedinatemperonbothsides.ButIthoughtitwouldallcomeright;anditwouldhaveifStephenhadn’tcomebacktoosoon.Anne,mydear,I’msorrytosay”...MissLavendardroppedhervoiceasifshewereabouttoconfessapredilectionformurderingpeople,“thatIamadreadfullysulkyperson.Oh,youneedn’tsmile,...it’sonlytootrue.IDOsulk;andStephencamebackbeforeIhadfinishedsulking.
