But Anne thought she liked his face ; it was kind and honest and tender ; there was something else in it , too -- just what , Anne found it hard to define . She finally concluded that this man had suffered and been strong , and it had been made manifest in his face . There was a sort of patient , humorous endurance in his expression which indicated that he would go to the stake if need be , but would keep on looking pleasant until he really had to begin squirming . When prayer-meeting was over this man came up to Janet and said , `` May I see you home , Janet ? '' Janet took his arm -- `` as primly and shyly as if she were no more than sixteen , having her first escort home , '' Anne told the girls at Patty 's Place later on . `` Miss Shirley , permit me to introduce Mr. Douglas , '' she said stiffly . Mr. Douglas nodded and said , `` I was looking at you in prayer-meeting , miss , and thinking what a nice little girl you were . '' Such a speech from ninety-nine people out of a hundred would have annoyed Anne bitterly ; but the way in which Mr. Douglas said it made her feel that she had received a very real and pleasing compliment . She smiled appreciatively at him and dropped obligingly behind on the moonlit road . So Janet had a beau ! Anne was delighted . Janet would make a paragon of a wife -- cheery , economical , tolerant , and a very queen of cooks . It would be a flagrant waste on Nature 's part to keep her a permanent old maid . `` John Douglas asked me to take you up to see his mother , '' said Janet the next day . `` She 's bed-rid a lot of the time and never goes out of the house . But she 's powerful fond of company and always wants to see my boarders . Can you go up this evening ? '' Anne assented ; but later in the day Mr. Douglas called on his mother 's behalf to invite them up to tea on Saturday evening . `` Oh , why did n't you put on your pretty pansy dress ? '' asked Anne , when they left home .
It was a hot day , and poor XXXXX , between her excitement and her heavy black cashmere dress , looked as if she were being broiled alive .
Anne Douglas Janet Patty Shirley boarders evening first left prayer-meeting