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 do n'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 . `` Is n'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 XXXXX was honestly alarmed .
Anne Douglas Janet John Shirley XXXIII days first left tormentors