"Enter Andrew, spic and span, prim and gentlemanly.
"Fauns... fairies... wonder moments... random words... fled pell-mell. No new language was needed now.
"'What a pity side-whiskers went out with the last generation... they would suit him so,' I said to myself in good plain English.
"I knew Andrew had come to say something special. Otherwise he would not have followed me into the Land of Uprightness, but have waited decorously in Aunt Ruth's parlour. I knew it had to come and I made up my mind to get it over and have done with it. The expectant attitude of Aunt Ruth and the New Moon folks has been oppressive lately. I believe they all feel quite sure that the real reason I wouldn't go to New York was that I couldn't bear to part with Andrew!
"But I was NOT going to have Andrew propose to me by moonlight in the Land of Uprightness. I might have been bewitched into accepting him. So when he said, 'It's nice here, let's stay here for a while... after all, I think there is nothing so pretty as nature,' I said gently but firmly that, though nature must feel highly flattered, it was too damp for a person with a tendency to consumption, and I must go in.
"In we went. I sat down opposite Andrew and stared at a bit of Aunt Ruth's crochet yarn on the carpet. I shall remember the colour and shape of that yarn to my dying day. Andrew talked jerkily about indifferent things and then began throwing out hints... he would get his managership in two years more... he believed in people marrying young... and, so on. He floundered badly. I suppose I could have made it easier for him but I hardened my heart, remembering how he had kept away in those dreadful weeks of the John house scandal. At last he blurted out,
"'Emily, let's get married when... when... as soon as I'm able to.'
"He seemed to feel that he ought to say something more but didn't know just what... so he repeated 'just as soon as I'm able to' and stopped.
"I don't believe I even went through the motions of a blush.
"'Why should we get married?' I said.
"Andrew looked aghast. Evidently this was not the Murray tradition of receiving a proposal.
"'Why? Why? Because... I'd like it,' he stammered.
"'I wouldn't,' I said.
"Andrew stared at me for a few moments trying to take in the amazing idea that he was being refused.
"'But WHY?' he asked... exactly in Aunt Ruth's tone and manner.
"'Because I don't love you,' I said.
"Andrew DID blush. I know he thought I was immodest.
"'I... I... think... they'd all like it,' he stammered.
"I wouldn't,' I said again. I said it in a tone even Andrew couldn't mistake.
"He was so surprised I don't think he felt anything BUT surprise... not even disappointment. He didn't know what to do or say... a MURRAY couldn't coax... so he got up and went out without another word. I thought he banged the door but afterwards I discovered it was only the wind. I wish he HAD banged the door. It would have saved my self-respect. It is mortifying to refuse a man and then discover that his main feeling is bewilderment.
"Next morning Aunt Ruth, evidently suspecting something amiss from the brevity of Andrew's call, asked me point blank what had happened. There's nothing subtle about Aunt Ruth. I told her just as point blankly.
"'What fault have you to find with Andrew?' she asked icily.
"'No fault... but he tastes flat. He has all the virtues but the pinch of salt was left out,' I said, with my nose in the air.
"'I hope you don't go farther and fare worse,' said Aunt Ruth ominously... meaning, as I knew, Stovepipe Town. I could have reassured Aunt Ruth on that point, also, had I chosen. Last week Perry came to tell me that he is going into Mr. Abel's office in Charlottetown to study law. It's a splendid chance for him. Mr. Abel heard his speech the night of the inter-school debate and has had his eye on him ever since, I understand. I congratulated him heartily. I really was delighted.
"'He'll give me enough to pay my board,' said Perry, 'and I guess I can rustle my clothes on some side line. I've got to hoe my own row. Aunt Tom won't help me. YOU know why.'
"'I'm sorry, Perry,' I said, laughing a little.
"'WON'T you, Emily?' he said. 'I'd like this thing settled.'
"'It is settled,' I said.
"'I suppose I've made an awful ass of myself about you,' grumbled Perry.
"'You have,' I said comfortingly... but still laughingly. Somehow I've never been able to take Perry seriously any more than Andrew. I've always got the feeling that he just imagines he's in love with me.
"'You won't get a cleverer man than me in a hurry,' warned Perry. 'I'm going to climb high.'
"'I'm sure you will,' I said warmly, 'and nobody will be more pleased than your friend, Emily B.'
"'Oh, FRIENDS,' said Perry sulkily. 'It's not for a friend I want you. But I've always heard it was no use to coax a Murray. Will you tell me one thing? It isn't my funeral... but are you going to marry Andrew Murray?'
"'It isn't your funeral... but I'm NOT,' I said.
"'Well,' said Perry, as he went out, 'if you ever change your mind, let me know. It will be all right... if I haven't changed mine.'
"I have written the account of this exactly as it happened. But... I have also written another account of it in my Jimmy-book as it SHOULD have happened. I find I am beginning to overcome my old difficulty of getting my dream people to make love fluently. In my imaginary account both Perry and I talked bee-yew-tifully.
"I think Perry really felt a little worse than Andrew did, and I felt sorry about it. I do like Perry so much as a chum and friend. I hate to disappoint him, but I know he will soon get over it.
"So I'll be the only one left at Blair Water next year. I don't know how I'll feel about that. I dare say I'll feel a little flat by times... perhaps at three o' the night I'll wish I had gone with Miss Royal. But I'm going to settle down to hard, serious work. It's a long climb to the crest of the Alpine Path.
"But I believe in myself, and there is always my world behind the curtain.
"New Moon, "June 21, 19...
"As soon as I arrived home to-night I felt a decided atmosphere of disapproval, and realized that Aunt Elizabeth knew all about Andrew. She was angry and Aunt Laura was sorry; but nobody has said anything. At twilight I talked it over in the garden with Cousin Jimmy. Andrew, it seems, HAS been feeling quite badly since the numbness of shock wore off. His appetite has failed; and Aunt Addie indignantly wants to know if I expect to marry a prince or a millionaire since HER son is not good enough for me.
"Cousin Jimmy thinks I did perfectly right. Cousin Jimmy would think I had done perfectly right if I had murdered Andrew and buried him in the Land of Uprightness. It's very nice to have ONE friend like that, though too many wouldn't be good for you.