He thought that I would really wait for him until he should have made enough money to come home and pay off the mortgage . I let him think so , because I hated to hurt his little feelings . But now it 's off with the old love and on with a new one for me . '' `` Anna , you can not be in earnest ! '' exclaimed Alma . But she was afraid that Anna was in earnest . Anna had a wretched habit of being in earnest when she said flippant things . `` You do n't mean that you are not going to write to Gilbert at all -- after all you promised ? '' Anna placed her elbows daintily on the top of the rocking chair , dropped her pointed chin in her hands , and looked at Alma with black demure eyes . `` I -- do -- mean -- just -- that , '' she said slowly . `` I never mean to marry Gilbert Murray . This is final , Alma , and you need not scold or coax , because it would be a waste of breath . Gilbert is safely out of the way , and now I am going to have a good time with a few other delightful men creatures in Exeter . '' Anna nodded decisively , flashed a smile at Alma , picked up her cat , and went out . At the door she turned and looked back , with the big black cat snuggled under her chin . `` If you think Gilbert will feel very badly over his letter not being answered , you might answer it yourself , Alma , '' she said teasingly . `` There it is '' -- she took the letter from the pocket of her ruffled apron and threw it on a chair . `` You may read it if you want to ; it is n't really a love letter . I told Gilbert he was n't to write silly letters . Come , pussy , I 'm going to get ready for prayer meeting .
We 've got a nice , new , young , good-looking minister XXXXX Exeter , pussy , and that makes prayer meeting very interesting . ''
If for from in of on over that to with