I really can not say I ever enjoyed the meetings -- at least not up to that time -- although I went religiously because I thought it my duty to go . The married women talked so much of their husbands and children , and of course I had to be quiet on those topics ; and the young girls talked in corner groups about their beaux , and stopped it when I joined them , as if they felt sure that an old maid who had never had a beau could n't understand at all . As for the other old maids , they talked gossip about every one , and I did not like that either . I knew the minute my back was turned they would fasten into me and hint that I used hair-dye and declare it was perfectly ridiculous for a woman of FIFTY to wear a pink muslin dress with lace-trimmed frills . There was a full attendance that day , for we were getting ready for a sale of fancy work in aid of parsonage repairs . The young girls were merrier and noisier than usual . Wilhelmina Mercer was there , and she kept them going . The Mercers were quite new to Avonlea , having come here only two months previously . I was sitting by the window and Wilhelmina Mercer , Maggie Henderson , Susette Cross and Georgie Hall were in a little group just before me . I was n't listening to their chatter at all , but presently Georgie exclaimed teasingly : `` Miss Charlotte is laughing at us . I suppose she thinks we are awfully silly to be talking about beaux . '' The truth was that I was simply smiling over some very pretty thoughts that had come to me about the roses which were climbing over Mary Gillespie 's sill . I meant to inscribe them in the little blank book when I went home . Georgie 's speech brought me back to harsh realities with a jolt . It hurt me , as such speeches always did . `` Did n't you ever have a beau , Miss Holmes ? '' said Wilhelmina laughingly . Just as it happened , a silence had fallen over the room for a moment , and everybody in it heard Wilhelmina 's question . I really do not know what got into me and possessed me . I have never been able to account for what I said and did , because I am naturally a truthful person and hate all deceit .
It seemed XXXXX me that I simply could not say `` No '' to Wilhelmina before that whole roomful of women .
although because before for in on over than that to