Melissa also refused him . I admit I was surprised at this , for I knew Melissa was rather anxious to marry ; but she has always been down on Isaac Appleby , from principle , because of a family feud on her mother 's side ; besides , an old beau of hers , a widower at Kingsbridge , was just beginning to take notice again , and I suspected Melissa had hopes concerning him . Finally , I imagine Melissa did not fancy being second choice . Whatever her reasons were , she refused poor Isaac , and that finished his matrimonial prospects as far as Jersey Cove was concerned , for there was n't another eligible woman in it -- that is , for a man of Isaac 's age . I was the only widow , and the other old maids besides Melissa were all hopelessly old-maiden . This was all three months ago , and Isaac had been keeping house for himself ever since . Nobody knew much about how he got along , for the Appleby house is half a mile from anywhere , down near the shore at the end of a long lane -- the lonesomest place , as I did not fail to remember when I was considering Isaac 's offer . `` I heard Jarvis Aldrich say Isaac had got a dog lately , '' said Melissa , when we finally came in sight of the house -- a handsome new one , by the way , put up only ten years ago . `` Jarvis said it was an imported breed . I do hope it is n't cross . '' I have a mortal horror of dogs , and I followed Melissa into the big farmyard with fear and trembling . We were halfway across the yard when Melissa shrieked : `` Anne , there 's the dog ! '' There was the dog ; and the trouble was that he did n't stay there , but came right down the slope at a steady , business-like trot . He was a bull-dog and big enough to bite a body clean in two , and he was the ugliest thing in dogs I had ever seen . Melissa and I both lost our heads . We screamed , dropped our parasols , and ran instinctively to the only refuge that was in sight -- a ladder leaning against the old Appleby house . I am forty-five and something more than plump , so that climbing ladders is not my favorite form of exercise . But I went up that one with the agility and grace of sixteen . Melissa followed me , and we found ourselves on the roof -- fortunately it was a flat one -- panting and gasping , but safe , unless that diabolical dog could climb a ladder . I crept cautiously to the edge and peered over .
The beast was sitting on his haunches XXXXX the foot of the ladder , and it was quite evident he was not short on time .
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