I do n't wonder that we 're the standing joke of Grafton . Goodness knows , I laugh at it enough myself . I 've sometimes thought that if Ludovic could be made jealous it might spur him along . But I never could flirt and there 's nobody to flirt with if I could . Everybody hereabouts looks upon me as Ludovic 's property and nobody would dream of interfering with him . '' `` Theodora , '' cried Anne , `` I have a plan ! '' `` Now , what are you going to do ? '' exclaimed Theodora . Anne told her . At first Theodora laughed and protested . In the end , she yielded somewhat doubtfully , overborne by Anne 's enthusiasm . `` Well , try it , then , '' she said , resignedly . `` If Ludovic gets mad and leaves me , I 'll be worse off than ever . But nothing venture , nothing win . And there is a fighting chance , I suppose . Besides , I must admit I 'm tired of his dilly-dallying . '' Anne went back to Echo Lodge tingling with delight in her plot . She hunted up Arnold Sherman , and told him what was required of him . Arnold Sherman listened and laughed . He was an elderly widower , an intimate friend of Stephen Irving , and had come down to spend part of the summer with him and his wife in Prince Edward Island .
He was handsome in a mature style , and he had a dash of mischief in him still , so that he entered readily enough into XXXXX 's plan .
Anne Grafton Irving Island Lodge Ludovic Sherman Theodora delight nobody