`` I ca n't do anything , and it 's awful to hang round just waiting , '' sighed Charlotta . `` What if he do n't propose after all , Miss Shirley , ma'am ? You can never be sure of them men . My older sister , Charlotta the First , thought she was engaged to one once . But it turned out HE had a different opinion and she says she 'll never trust one of them again . And I heard of another case where a man thought he wanted one girl awful bad when it was really her sister he wanted all the time . When a man do n't know his own mind , Miss Shirley , ma'am , how 's a poor woman going to be sure of it ? '' `` We 'll go to the kitchen and clean the silver spoons , '' said Anne . `` That 's a task which wo n't require much thinking fortunately ... for I COULD N'T think tonight . And it will pass the time . '' It passed an hour . Then , just as Anne laid down the last shining spoon , they heard the front door shut . Both sought comfort fearfully in each other 's eyes . `` Oh , Miss Shirley , ma'am , '' gasped Charlotta , `` if he 's going away this early there 's nothing into it and never will be . '' They flew to the window . Mr. Irving had no intention of going away . He and Miss Lavendar were strolling slowly down the middle path to the stone bench . `` Oh , Miss Shirley , ma'am , he 's got his arm around her waist , '' whispered Charlotta the Fourth delightedly . `` He must have proposed to her or she 'd never allow it . '' Anne caught Charlotta the Fourth by her own plump waist and danced her around the kitchen until they were both out of breath .
`` Oh , Charlotta , '' she cried gaily , `` I 'm neither a prophetess nor the daughter of a prophetess but I 'm going XXXXX make a prediction .
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