`` Is n't old Mrs. Douglas a sweet woman ? '' asked Janet , as they went down the road . `` M -- m , '' answered Anne absently . She was wondering why John Douglas had looked so . `` She 's been a terrible sufferer , '' said Janet feelingly . `` She takes terrible spells . It keeps John all worried up . He 's scared to leave home for fear his mother will take a spell and nobody there but the hired girl . '' Chapter XXXIII `` He Just Kept Coming and Coming '' Three days later Anne came home from school and found Janet crying . Tears and Janet seemed so incongruous that Anne was honestly alarmed . `` Oh , what is the matter ? '' she cried anxiously . `` I 'm -- I 'm forty today , '' sobbed Janet . `` Well , you were nearly that yesterday and it did n't hurt , '' comforted Anne , trying not to smile . `` But -- but , '' went on Janet with a big gulp , `` John Douglas wo n't ask me to marry him . '' `` Oh , but he will , '' said Anne lamely . `` You must give him time , Janet `` Time ! '' said Janet with indescribable scorn . `` He has had twenty years . How much time does he want ? ''
`` Do you mean that John Douglas has been coming XXXXX see you for twenty years ? ''
Douglas Janet John as down from that to with years