It was warm with the March sunshine and the leafless boughs of the creeper that covered the end of the house were tapping a gay tattoo on the window panes to the music of the wind . Judith sat down in her little rocker and dropped her pointed chin in her hands . Far down the valley , over the firs on the McGregor hill and the blue mirror of the Cranston pond , Bruce Marshall 's little gray house peeped out from a semicircle of white-stemmed birches . She had not seen Bruce since before Christmas . He had been angry at her then because she had refused to let him drive her home from prayer meeting . Since then she had heard a rumor that he was going to see Kitty Leigh at the Upper Valley . Judith looked sombrely down at the Marshall homestead . She had always loved the quaint , picturesque old place , so different from all the commonplace spick and span new houses of the prosperous valley . Judith had never been able to decide whether she really cared very much for Bruce Marshall or not , but she knew that she loved that rambling , cornery house of his , with the gable festooned with the real ivy that Bruce Marshall 's great-grandmother had brought with her from England . Judith thought contrastingly of Eben King 's staring , primrose-colored house in all its bare , intrusive grandeur . She gave a little shrug of distaste . `` I wish Bruce knew of this , '' she thought , flushing even in her solitude at the idea . `` Although if it is true that he is going to see Kitty Leigh I do n't suppose he 'd care . And Aunt Theo will be sure to send word to Eben by hook or crook . Whatever possessed me to say such a mad thing ? There goes Mrs. Tony now , all agog to spread such a delectable bit of gossip . '' Mrs. Tony had indeed gone , refusing Mrs. Theodora 's invitation to stay to tea , so eager was she to tell her story . And Mrs. Theodora , at that very minute , was out in her kitchen yard , giving her instructions to Potter Vane , the twelve year old urchin who cut her wood and did sundry other chores for her . `` Potter , '' she said , excitedly , `` run over to the Kings ' and tell Eben to come over here immediately -- no matter what he 's at . Tell him I want to see him about something of the greatest importance . ''
Mrs. XXXXX thought that this was a master stroke .
Bruce Kings Leigh McGregor Theodora Tony agog spick urchin year