what it is.
Well, you needn t suffer any longer, said Marilla sarcastically. You
can go, but you re to be back here in just ten minutes, remember that.
Anne did remember it and was back in the stipulated time, although
probably no mortal will ever know just what it cost her to confine the
discussion of Diana s important communication within the limits of ten
minutes. But at least she had made good use of them.
Oh, Marilla, what do you think? You know tomorrow is Diana s birthday.
Well, her mother told her she could ask me to go home with her from
school and stay all night with her. And her cousins are coming over from
Newbridge in a big pung sleigh to go to the Debating Club concert at
the hall tomorrow night. And they are going to take Diana and me to the
concert--if you ll let me go, that is. You will, won t you, Marilla? Oh,
I feel so excited.
You can calm down then, because you re not going. You re better at home
in your own bed, and as for that club concert, it s all nonsense, and
little girls should not be allowed to go out to such places at all.
I m sure the Debating Club is a most respectable affair, pleaded Anne.
I m not saying it isn t. But you re not going to begin gadding about
to concerts and staying out all hours of the night. Pretty doings for
children. I m surprised at Mrs. Barry s letting Diana go.
But it s such a very special occasion, mourned Anne, on the verge of
tears. Diana has only one birthday in a year. It isn t as if birthdays
were common things, Marilla. Prissy Andrews is going to recite Curfew
Must Not Ring Tonight. That is such a good moral piece, Marilla, I m
sure it would do me lots of good to hear it. And the choir are going to
sing four lovely pathetic songs that are pretty near as good as hymns.
And oh, Marilla, the minister is going to take part; yes, indeed, he is;
he s going to give an address. That will be just about the same thing as
a sermon. Please, mayn t I go, Marilla?
You heard what I said, Anne, didn t you? Take off your boots now and go
to bed. It s past eight.
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