On the church steps Cromwell offered his arm to Lucy Ellen with a flourish . She took it shyly , and they started down the road in the crisp Autumn moonlight . For the first time in ten years Cecily walked home from prayer-meeting alone . She went up-stairs and flung herself on her bed , reckless for once , of her second best hat and gown . Lucy Ellen did not venture to ask Cromwell in . She was too much in awe of Cecily for that . But she loitered with him at the gate until the grandfather 's clock in the hall struck eleven . Then Cromwell went away , whistling gaily , with Lucy Ellen 's chrysanthemum in his buttonhole , and Lucy Ellen went in and cried half the night . But Cecily did not cry . She lay savagely awake until morning . `` Cromwell Biron is courting you again , '' she said bluntly to Lucy Ellen at the breakfast table . Lucy Ellen blushed nervously . `` Oh , nonsense , Cecily , '' she protested with a simper . `` It is n't nonsense , '' said Cecily calmly . `` He is . There is no fool like an old fool , and Cromwell Biron never had much sense . The presumption of him ! '' Lucy Ellen 's hands trembled as she put her teacup down . `` He 's not so very old , '' she said faintly , `` and everybody but you likes him -- and he 's well-to-do . I do n't see that there 's any presumption . ''
`` Maybe not -- if you look XXXXX it so .
For as at in like of on that until with