Mr. Irving smiled a little sadly into her uplifted face , all astar with its youth and promise . `` Sometimes the prince comes too late , '' he said . He did not ask Anne to translate her remark into prose . Like all kindred spirits he `` understood . '' `` Oh , no , not if he is the real prince coming to the true princess , '' said Anne , shaking her red head decidedly , as she opened the parlor door . When he had gone in she shut it tightly behind him and turned to confront Charlotta the Fourth , who was in the hall , all `` nods and becks and wreathed smiles . '' `` Oh , Miss Shirley , ma'am , '' she breathed , `` I peeked from the kitchen window ... and he 's awful handsome ... and just the right age for Miss Lavendar . And oh , Miss Shirley , ma'am , do you think it would be much harm to listen at the door ? '' `` It would be dreadful , Charlotta , '' said Anne firmly , `` so just you come away with me out of the reach of temptation . '' `` I ca n't do anything , and it 's awful to hang round just waiting , '' sighed Charlotta . `` What if he do n't propose after all , Miss Shirley , ma'am ? You can never be sure of them men . My older sister , Charlotta the First , thought she was engaged to one once . But it turned out HE had a different opinion and she says she 'll never trust one of them again . And I heard of another case where a man thought he wanted one girl awful bad when it was really her sister he wanted all the time . When a man do n't know his own mind , Miss Shirley , ma'am , how 's a poor woman going to be sure of it ? '' `` We 'll go to the kitchen and clean the silver spoons , '' said Anne . `` That 's a task which wo n't require much thinking fortunately ... for I COULD N'T think tonight . And it will pass the time . '' It passed an hour .
Then , just XXXXX Anne laid down the last shining spoon , they heard the front door shut .
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