u find
yourself engaged or married to some one you hate or don't know, without
the slightest idea how it ever came about? No, she, Anne Shirley, was
lying there, wide awake, in her own bed, and Jane Andrews was beside
her, calmly proposing for her brother Billy. Anne did not know whether
she wanted to writhe or laugh; but she could do neither, for Jane's
feelings must not be hurt.

"I--I couldn't marry Bill, you know, Jane," she managed to gasp. "Why,
such an idea never occurred to me--never!"

"I don't suppose it did," agreed Jane. "Billy has always been far too
shy to think of courting. But you might think it over, Anne. Billy is a
good fellow. I must say that, if he is my brother. He has no bad habits
and he's a great worker, and you can depend on him. 'A bird in the hand
is worth two in the bush.' He told me to tell you he'd be quite willing
to wait till you got through college, if you insisted, though he'd
RATHER get married this spring before the planting begins. He'd always
be very good to you, I'm sure, and you know, Anne, I'd love to have you
for a sister."

"I can't marry Billy," said Anne decidedly. She had recovered her wits,
and was even feeling a little angry. It was all so ridiculous. "There is
no use thinking of it, Jane. I don't care anything for him in that way,
and you must tell him so."

"Well, I didn't suppose you would," said Jane with a resigned sigh,
feeling that she had done her best. "I told Billy I didn't believe it
was a bit of use to ask you, but he insisted. Well, you've made your
decision, Anne, and I hope you won't regret it."

Jane spoke rather coldly. She had been perfectly sure that the enamored
Billy had no chance at all of inducing Anne to marry him. Nevertheless,
she felt a little resentment that Anne Shirley, who was, after all,
merely an adopted orphan, without kith or kin, should refuse her
brother--one of the Avonlea Andrews. Well, pride sometimes goes before a
fall, Jane reflected ominously.

Anne permitted herself to smile in the darkness over the idea that she
might ever regret not marrying Billy Andrews.

"I hope Billy won't feel very badly over it," she said nicely.

Jane made a movement as if she were tossing her head on her pillow.

"Oh, he won't break his heart. Billy has too much good sense for that.
He likes Nettie Blewett pretty well, too, and mother would rather he
married her than any one. She's such a good manager and saver. I think,
when Billy is once s