I think , when Billy is once sure you wo n't have him , he 'll take Nettie . Please do n't mention this to any one , will you , Anne ? '' `` Certainly not , '' said Anne , who had no desire whatever to publish abroad the fact that Billy Andrews wanted to marry her , preferring her , when all was said and done , to Nettie Blewett . Nettie Blewett ! `` And now I suppose we 'd better go to sleep , '' suggested Jane . To sleep went Jane easily and speedily ; but , though very unlike MacBeth in most respects , she had certainly contrived to murder sleep for Anne . That proposed-to damsel lay on a wakeful pillow until the wee sma 's , but her meditations were far from being romantic . It was not , however , until the next morning that she had an opportunity to indulge in a good laugh over the whole affair . When Jane had gone home -- still with a hint of frost in voice and manner because Anne had declined so ungratefully and decidedly the honor of an alliance with the House of Andrews -- Anne retreated to the porch room , shut the door , and had her laugh out at last . `` If I could only share the joke with some one ! '' she thought . `` But I ca n't . Diana is the only one I 'd want to tell , and , even if I had n't sworn secrecy to Jane , I ca n't tell Diana things now . She tells everything to Fred -- I know she does . Well , I 've had my first proposal . I supposed it would come some day -- but I certainly never thought it would be by proxy . It 's awfully funny -- and yet there 's a sting in it , too , somehow . '' Anne knew quite well wherein the sting consisted , though she did not put it into words . She had had her secret dreams of the first time some one should ask her the great question . And it had , in those dreams , always been very romantic and beautiful : and the `` some one '' was to be very handsome and dark-eyed and distinguished-looking and eloquent , whether he were Prince Charming to be enraptured with `` yes , '' or one to whom a regretful , beautifully worded , but hopeless refusal must be given .
If the latter , the refusal was XXXXX be expressed so delicately that it would be next best thing to acceptance , and he would go away , after kissing her hand , assuring her of his unalterable , life-long devotion .
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