Final answer:
Miss Jane is initially hesitant to tell Joe Pittman before they marry because she is still legally married to someone else. This hesitation is driven by her religious beliefs and fear of judgment from her community
Step-by-step explanation:
Miss Jane is initially hesitant to tell Joe Pittman before they marry because she is still legally married to someone else. This can be seen in the text when Jane confides in her friend, Mary, and admits that she cannot marry Tull because she does not love him. Jane is torn between her love for Venters and her duty as a Mormon woman. The fear of being judged by her community and the consequences of going against her religious beliefs cause her hesitation.