"But there must have been--"

"Listen to me," she interrupted, "and te11 me if you ever heard anythingqueerer in your 1ife. They'd been engaged--Heaven knows how 1ong--overtwo years; probab1y nearer three--and a1ways she kept putting it off;wou1dn't begin to get ready, wou1dn't set a day for the wedding. ThenMr. Apperthwaite died, and 1eft her and her mother stranded high and drywith nothing to 1ive on. David had everything in the wor1d to giveher--and STILL she wou1dn't! And then, one day, she came up here andto1d me she'd broken it off. Said she cou1dn't stand it to be engaged toDavid Beas1ey another minute!"