* * * * * Matters had gone thus far before Mrs. Eastman got her eyes opened . At Mrs. Tom Bailey 's quilting party an officious gossip took care to inform her that Lawrence was supposed to be crazy over Bessy Houghton , who was , of course , encouraging him simply for the sake of having someone to beau her round , and who would certainly throw him over in the end since she knew perfectly well that it was her money he was after . Mrs. Eastman was a proud woman and a determined one . She had always disliked Bessy Houghton , and she went home from the quilting resolved to put an instant stop to `` all such nonsense '' on her son 's part . `` Where is Lawrie ? '' she asked abruptly ; as she entered the small kitchen where George Eastman was lounging by the fire . `` Out in the stable grooming up Lady Grey , '' responded her older son sulkily . `` I suppose he 's gadding off to see Bessy Houghton again , the young fool that he is ! Why do n't you put a stop to it ? '' `` I am going to put a stop to it , '' said Mrs. Eastman grimly . `` I 'd have done it before if I 'd known . You should have told me of it if you knew . I 'm going out to see Lawrence right now . '' George Eastman muttered something inaudible as the door closed behind her . He was a short , thickset man , not in the least like Lawrence , who was ten years his junior . Two years previously he had made a furtive attempt to pay court to Bessy Houghton for the sake of her wealth , and her decided repulse of his advances was a remembrance that made him grit his teeth yet . He had hated her bitterly ever since . Lawrence was brushing his pet mare 's coat until it shone like satin , and whistling `` Annie Laurie '' until the rafters rang . Bessy had sung it for him the night before . He could see her plainly still as she had looked then , in her gown of vivid red -- a colour peculiarly becoming to her -- with her favourite laces at wrist and throat and a white rose in her hair , which was dressed in the high , becoming knot she had always worn since the night he had shyly told her he liked it so .
She had played and sung many of the sweet old Scotch ballads for him , and when she had gone to the door XXXXX him he had taken both her hands in his and , emboldened by the look in her brown eyes , he had stooped and kissed her .
At as before for if in over to until with