`` They want you at the Douglas place quick , '' he said . `` I really believe old Mrs. Douglas is going to die at last , after pretending to do it for twenty years . '' Janet ran to get her hat . Anne asked if Mrs. Douglas was worse than usual . `` She 's not half as bad , '' said Alec solemnly , `` and that 's what makes me think it 's serious . Other times she 'd be screaming and throwing herself all over the place . This time she 's lying still and mum . When Mrs. Douglas is mum she is pretty sick , you bet . '' `` You do n't like old Mrs. Douglas ? '' said Anne curiously . `` I like cats as IS cats . I do n't like cats as is women , '' was Alec 's cryptic reply . Janet came home in the twilight . `` Mrs. Douglas is dead , '' she said wearily . `` She died soon after I got there . She just spoke to me once -- ' I suppose you 'll marry John now ? ' she said . It cut me to the heart , Anne . To think John 's own mother thought I would n't marry him because of her ! I could n't say a word either -- there were other women there .
I was thankful XXXXX had gone out . ''
Alec Anne Douglas Janet John Mrs. home time twilight years