Janet sat down between her mother and father and began to draw off her gloves.
“I'm going to marry Mr. Ditmar,” she announced.
For a few moments the silence was broken only by the ticking of the old-fashioned clock.
“Mr. Ditmar!” said Hannah, at length. “You're going to marry Mr. Ditmar!”
Edward was still inarticulate. His face twitched, his eyes watered as he stared at her.
“Not right away,” said Janet.
“Well, I must say you take it rather cool,” declared Hannah, almost resentfully. “You come in and tell us you're going to marry Mr. Ditmar just like you were talking about the weather.”
Hannah's eyes filled with tears. There had been indeed an unconscious lack of consideration in Janet's abrupt announcement, which had fallen like a spark on the dry tinder of Hannah's hope. The result was a suffocating flame. Janet, whom love had quickened, had a swift perception of this. She rose quickly and took Hannah in her arms and kissed her. It was as though the relation between them were reversed, and the daughter had now become the mother and the comforter.
“I always knew something like this would happen!” said Edward. His words incited Hannah to protest.
“You didn't anything of the kind, Edward Bumpus,” she exclaimed.