Steve Hanks Comfort in Solitude painting

Steve Hanks Comfort in Solitude painting
William Bouguereau The Virgin with Angels painting
It would be dreadful, Charlotta," said Anne firmly, "so just you come away with me out of the reach of temptation."
"I can't do anything, and it's awful to hang round just waiting," sighed Charlotta. "What if he don't propose after all, Miss Shirley, ma'am? You can never be sure of them men. My older sister, Charlotta the First, thought she was engaged to one once. But it turned out he had a different opinion and she says she'll never trust one of them again. And I heard of another case where a man thought he wanted one girl awful bad when it was really her sister he wanted all the time. When a man don't know his own mind, Miss Shirley, ma'am, how's a poor woman going to be sure of it?"
"We'll go to the kitchen and clean the silver spoons," said Anne. "That's a task which won't require much thinking fortunately. . . for I couldn't think tonight. And it will pass the time."
It passed an hour. Then, just as Anne laid down the last shining spoon, they heard the front door