Ismay had spilled grease on her velvet coat , and the fit of the new blouse I was making was hopelessly askew , and the kitchen stove smoked and the bread was sour . Moreover , Huldah Jane Keyson , our tried and trusty old family nurse and cook and general `` boss , '' had what she called the `` realagy '' in her shoulder ; and , though Huldah Jane is as good an old creature as ever lived , when she has the `` realagy '' other people who are in the house want to get out of it and , if they ca n't , feel about as comfortable as St. Lawrence on his gridiron . And on top of this came Aunt Cynthia 's call and request . `` Dear me , '' said Aunt Cynthia , sniffing , `` do n't I smell smoke ? You girls must manage your range very badly . Mine never smokes . But it is no more than one might expect when two girls try to keep house without a man about the place . '' `` We get along very well without a man about the place , '' I said loftily . Max had n't been in for four whole days and , though nobody wanted to see him particularly , I could n't help wondering why . `` Men are nuisances . '' `` I dare say you would like to pretend you think so , '' said Aunt Cynthia , aggravatingly . `` But no woman ever does really think so , you know . I imagine that pretty Anne Shirley , who is visiting Ella Kimball , does n't . I saw her and Dr. Irving out walking this afternoon , looking very well satisfied with themselves . If you dilly-dally much longer , Sue , you will let Max slip through your fingers yet . '' That was a tactful thing to say to ME , who had refused Max Irving so often that I had lost count . I was furious , and so I smiled most sweetly on my maddening aunt . `` Dear Aunt , how amusing of you , '' I said , smoothly . `` You talk as if I wanted Max . '' `` So you do , '' said Aunt Cynthia .
`` XXXXX so , why should I have refused him time and again ? ''
If as in of on so than though through to