For a moment Marilla looked things not lawful to be uttered. Then she
yielded to the inevitable and said tartly:
Very well, she can go, since nothing else ll please you.
Anne flew out of the pantry, dripping dishcloth in hand.
Oh, Marilla, Marilla, say those blessed words again.
I guess once is enough to say them. This is Matthew s doings and I
wash my hands of it. If you catch pneumonia sleeping in a strange bed or
coming out of that hot hall in the middle of the night, don t blame me,
blame Matthew. Anne Shirley, you re dripping greasy water all over the
floor. I never saw such a careless child.
Oh, I know I m a great trial to you, Marilla, said Anne repentantly.
I make so many mistakes. But then just think of all the mistakes I
don t make, although I might. I ll get some sand and scrub up the spots
before I go to school. Oh, Marilla, my heart was just set on going to
that concert. I never was to a concert in my life, and when the other
girls talk about them in school I feel so out of it. You didn t know
just how I felt about it, but you see Matthew did. Matthew understands
me, and it s so nice to be understood, Marilla.
Anne was too excited to do herself justice as to lessons that morning in
school. Gilbert Blythe spelled her down in class and left her clear out
of sight in mental arithmetic. Anne s consequent humiliation was
less than it might have been, however, in view of the concert and the
spare-room bed. She and Diana talked so constantly about it all day that
with a stricter teacher than Mr. Phillips dire disgrace must inevitably
have been their portion.
Anne felt that she could not have borne it if she had not been going
to the concert, for nothing else was discussed that day in school. The
Avonlea Debating Club, which met fortnightly all winter, had had several
smaller free entertainments; but this was to be a big affair, admission
ten cents, in aid of the library. The Avonlea young people had been
practicing for weeks, and all the scholars were especially interested in
it by reason of older brothers and sisters who were going to take part.
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