Why , Janet , I 'll be Mrs. Gordon of Gordon Brae -- and I 'll have everything heart can desire and the man of my heart to boot . What has lanky Randall Burnley with his little six-roomed house to set against that ? '' If Avery did not sleep , neither did Janet . She lay awake till dawn , suffering such misery as she had never endured in her life before . She knew she must go to Randall Burnley tomorrow and break his heart . If she did not , Avery would tell him -- tell him what Janet had done . And he must not know that -- he must not . Janet could not bear that thought . * * * * * It was a pallid , dull-eyed Janet who went through the birch wood to the Burnley farm next afternoon , leaving behind her an excited household where the sudden change of bridegrooms , as announced by Avery , had rather upset everybody . Janet found Randall working in the garden of his new house -- setting out rosebushes for Avery -- Avery , who was to jilt him at the very altar , so to speak . He came over to open the gate for Janet , smiling his dear smile . It was a dear smile -- Janet caught her breath over the dearness of it -- and she was going to blot it off his face . She spoke out , with plainness and directness . When you had to deal a mortal blow , why try to lighten it ? `` Avery sent me to tell you that she is going to marry Bruce Gordon instead of you . He came last night -- and she says that she has always liked him best . '' A very curious change came over Randall 's face -- but not the change Janet had expected to see . Instead of turning pale Randall flushed ; and instead of a sharp cry of pain and incredulity , Randall said in no uncertain tones , `` Thank God ! '' Janet wondered if she were dreaming . Granny Thomas ' love potion seemed to have turned the world upside down .
For Randall 's arms were about her and Randall was pressing his lean bronzed cheek to hers and XXXXX was saying : `` Now I can tell you , Janet , how much I love you . ''
Avery Gordon Janet Randall Thomas bridegrooms dearness night plainness potion