He had come around the porch corner abruptly as she stood there in the dusk , and she started very perceptibly . `` Good evening , Anne , '' he said , easily and unblushingly . Anne choked up . She was very angry , or thought she was . Jerome appeared not to notice her lack of welcome . He sat coolly down in his old place . His heart was beating like a hammer , but Anne did not know that . `` I suppose , '' she said cuttingly , `` that you 're on your way down to the bridge . It 's almost a pity for you to waste time stopping here at all , any more than you have of late . No doubt Harriet 'll be expecting you . '' A gleam of satisfaction flashed over Jerome 's face . He looked shrewdly at Anne , who was not looking at him , but was staring uncompromisingly out over the poppy beds . A jealous woman always gives herself away . If Anne had been indifferent she would not have given him that slap in the face . `` I dunno 's she will , '' he replied coolly . `` I did n't say for sure whether I 'd be down tonight or not . It 's so long since I had a chat with you I thought I 'd drop in for a spell . But of course if I 'm not wanted I can go where I will be . '' Anne could not get back her self-control . Her nerves were `` all strung up , '' as she would have said .
She had a feeling that she was right on the brink XXXXX a `` scene , '' but she could not help herself .
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