That night Janet rubbed mutton tallow on her hands . She had never done that before -- she had thought it vain and foolish -- though Avery did it every night . But that afternoon on the pond Randall had said something about the beautiful shape of her pretty slender hands . He had never paid her a compliment before . Her hands were brown and a little hard -- not soft and white like Avery 's . So Janet resorted to the mutton tallow . If one had a scrap of beauty , if only in one 's hands , one might as well take care of it . Having got her ointment , the next thing was to make use of it . This was not so easy -- because , in the first place , it must not be done when there was any danger of Avery 's seeing some other than Randall first -- and it must be done without Avery 's knowing it . The two problems combined were almost too much for Janet . She bided her chance like a watchful cat -- but it did not come . Two weeks went by and it had not come . Janet was getting very desperate . The wedding day was only a week away . The bride 's cake was made and the turkeys fattened . The invitations were sent out . Janet 's own bridesmaid dress was ready . And still the little pill box in the till of Janet 's blue chest was unopened . She had never even opened it , lest virtue escape . Then her chance came at last , unexpectedly .
One evening XXXXX dusk , when Janet was crossing the little dark upstairs hall , Aunt Matilda called up to her .
at for if in of on than that though without