`` Is it Bryan Lee ? '' demanded John . `` It might be , '' said Nan reflectively , `` and then again , you know , it might n't . '' John was silent ; he was no match for Nan when it came to a war of words . He scowled moodily at the shining tumblers . `` Nan , I 'm going out west , '' he said finally . Nan stared at him with her last tumbler poised in mid-air , very much as if he had announced his intention of going to the North Pole or Equatorial Africa . `` John Osborne , are you crazy ? '' `` Not quite . And I 'm in earnest , I can tell you that . '' Nan set the glass down with a decided thud . John 's curtness displeased her . He need n't suppose that it made any difference to her if he took it into his stupid head to go to Afghanistan . `` Oh ! '' she remarked carelessly . `` Well , I suppose if you 've got the Western fever your case is hopeless . Would it be impertinent to inquire why you are going ? '' `` There 's nothing else for me to do , Nan , '' said John , `` Bryan Lee is going to foreclose the mortgage next month and I 'll have to clear out . He says he ca n't wait any longer . I 've worked hard enough and done my best to keep the old place , but it 's been uphill work and I 'm beaten at last . ''
XXXXX sat blankly down on the stool by the window .
Afghanistan Africa John Lee Nan Osborne Pole Western tumblers war