I said nothing and gave no advice , not having lived seventy-five years for nothing . I knew that Doctor John 's decision was manly and right and fair ; but I also knew it was all nullified by the fact that Marcella already loved him . So much I knew ; the rest I was left to suppose . The Doctor and Marcella told me much , but there were some things too sacred to be told , even to me . So that to this day I do n't know how the doctor found out that Marcella loved him . All I know is that one day , just a month before her sixteenth birthday , the two came hand in hand to Miss Sara and me , as we sat on Miss Sara 's veranda in the twilight , and told us simply that they had plighted their troth to each other . I looked at them standing there with that wonderful sunrise of life and love on their faces -- the doctor , tall and serious , with a sprinkle of silver in his brown hair and the smile of a happy man on his lips -- Marcella , such a slip of a girl , with her black hair in a long braid and her lovely face all dewed over with tears and sunned over with smiles -- I , an old woman , looked at them and thanked the good God for them and their delight . Miss Sara laughed and cried and kissed -- and forboded what the Barrys would do . Her forebodings proved only too true . When the doctor wrote to Richard Barry , Marcella 's guardian , asking his consent to their engagement , Richard Barry promptly made trouble -- the very worst kind of trouble . He descended on Bridgeport and completely overwhelmed poor Miss Sara in his wrath . He laughed at the idea of countenancing an engagement between a child like Marcella and an obscure country doctor . And he carried Marcella off with him ! She had to go , of course . He was her legal guardian and he would listen to no pleadings . He did n't know anything about Marcella 's character , and he thought that a new life out in the great world would soon blot out her fancy . After the first outburst of tears and prayers Marcella took it very calmly , as far as outward eye could see . She was as cool and dignified and stately as a young queen . On the night before she went away she came over to say good-bye to me . She did not even shed any tears , but the look in her eyes told of bitter hurt .
`` It is goodbye XXXXX five years , Miss Tranquil , '' she said steadily .
On about as at between for in of that with