It was never of any avail to show impatience with Anna . `` Anna , you are talking foolishly . Of course you are going to answer his letter . You are as good as engaged to him . Was n't that practically understood when he left ? '' `` No , no , dear , '' and Anna shook her sleek black head with the air of explaining matters to an obtuse child . '' I was the only one who understood . Gil mis_understood . He thought that I would really wait for him until he should have made enough money to come home and pay off the mortgage . I let him think so , because I hated to hurt his little feelings . But now it 's off with the old love and on with a new one for me . '' `` Anna , you can not be in earnest ! '' exclaimed Alma . But she was afraid that Anna was in earnest . Anna had a wretched habit of being in earnest when she said flippant things . `` You do n't mean that you are not going to write to Gilbert at all -- after all you promised ? '' Anna placed her elbows daintily on the top of the rocking chair , dropped her pointed chin in her hands , and looked at Alma with black demure eyes . `` I -- do -- mean -- just -- that , '' she said slowly . `` I never mean to marry Gilbert Murray . This is final , Alma , and you need not scold or coax , because it would be a waste of breath .
XXXXX is safely out of the way , and now I am going to have a good time with a few other delightful men creatures in Exeter . ''
Alma Anna Gilbert Murray feelings left letter love mis_understood top