But she was afraid that Anna was in earnest . Anna had a wretched habit of being in earnest when she said flippant things . `` You do n't mean that you are not going to write to Gilbert at all -- after all you promised ? '' Anna placed her elbows daintily on the top of the rocking chair , dropped her pointed chin in her hands , and looked at Alma with black demure eyes . `` I -- do -- mean -- just -- that , '' she said slowly . `` I never mean to marry Gilbert Murray . This is final , Alma , and you need not scold or coax , because it would be a waste of breath . Gilbert is safely out of the way , and now I am going to have a good time with a few other delightful men creatures in Exeter . '' Anna nodded decisively , flashed a smile at Alma , picked up her cat , and went out . At the door she turned and looked back , with the big black cat snuggled under her chin . `` If you think Gilbert will feel very badly over his letter not being answered , you might answer it yourself , Alma , '' she said teasingly . `` There it is '' -- she took the letter from the pocket of her ruffled apron and threw it on a chair . `` You may read it if you want to ; it is n't really a love letter . I told Gilbert he was n't to write silly letters . Come , pussy , I 'm going to get ready for prayer meeting . We 've got a nice , new , young , good-looking minister in Exeter , pussy , and that makes prayer meeting very interesting . '' Anna shut the door , her departing laugh rippling mockingly through the dusk . Alma picked up Gilbert Murray 's letter and went to her room . She wanted to cry , since she could not shake Anna . Even if she could have shook her , it would only have made her more perverse .
Anna was in earnest ; Alma knew XXXXX , even while she hoped and believed that it was but the earnestness of a freak that would pass in time .
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