The man is simply crazy about you, and harassed to death with this ranch business.

Once that's settled--well, you'll see what sort of a lover he can be!" "Thank you so much for holding out a little hope and encouragement, my dear!" Evadna, by the way, looked anything but thankful; indeed, she seemed to resent the hope and the encouragement as a bit of unwarranted impertinence.

She glanced toward the door as if she meditated an immediate departure, but ended by settling back in the chair and beginning to rock again.
"It's a nasty, underhand business from start to finish," said Miss Georgie, ignoring the remark.

"It has upset everybody--me included, and I'm sure it isn't my affair.

It's just one of those tricky cases that you know is rotten to the core, and yet you can't seem to get hold of anything definite.