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. Theodora thought that this was a master stroke . `` That match is as good as made , '' she thought triumphantly as she picked up chips to start the tea fire . `` If Judith suspects that Eben is here she is quite likely to stay in her room and refuse to come down .
But if she does I 'll march him upstairs XXXXX her door and make him ask her through the keyhole .
Since as at because for from in of that to