They are so full of profanity and they do not spell it with stars either , as used to be done in my young days . This war is demoralizing everybody . '' Susan , standing on a load of grain , her grey hair whipping in the breeze and her skirt kilted up to her knees for safety and convenience -- no overalls for Susan , if you please -- neither a beautiful nor a romantic figure ; but the spirit that animated her gaunt arms was the self-same one that captured Vimy Ridge and held the German legions back from Verdun . It is not the least likely , however , that this consideration was the one which appealed most strongly to Mr. Pryor when he drove past one afternoon and saw Susan pitching sheaves gamely . `` Smart woman that , '' he reflected . `` Worth two of many a younger one yet . I might do worse -- I might do worse . If Milgrave comes home alive I 'll lose Miranda and hired housekeepers cost more than a wife and are liable to leave a man in the lurch any time . I 'll think it over . '' A week later Mrs. Blythe , coming up from the village late in the afternoon , paused at the gate of Ingleside in an amazement which temporarily bereft her of the power of motion . An extraordinary sight met her eyes . Round the end of the kitchen burst Mr. Pryor , running as stout , pompous Mr. Pryor had not run in years , with terror imprinted on every lineament -- a terror quite justifiable , for behind him , like an avenging fate , came Susan , with a huge , smoking iron pot grasped in her hands , and an expression in her eye that boded ill to the object of her indignation , if she should overtake him . Pursuer and pursued tore across the lawn . Mr. Pryor reached the gate a few feet ahead of Susan , wrenched it open , and fled down the road , without a glance at the transfixed lady of Ingleside . `` Susan , '' gasped Anne . Susan halted in her mad career , set down her pot , and shook her fist after Mr. Pryor , who had not ceased to run , evidently believing that Susan was still full cry after him . `` Susan , what does this mean ? '' demanded Anne , a little severely . `` You may well ask that , Mrs. Dr. dear , '' Susan replied wrathfully . `` I have not been so upset in years .
That -- that -- that pacifist has actually had the audacity to come up here and , XXXXX my own kitchen , to ask me to marry him .
across as from if in of on over than without