he looked right down at you.
Diana, said Anne with dignity, you are my bosom friend, but I cannot
allow even you to speak to me of that person. Are you ready for bed?
Let s run a race and see who ll get to the bed first.
The suggestion appealed to Diana. The two little white-clad figures flew
down the long room, through the spare-room door, and bounded on the bed
at the same moment. And then--something--moved beneath them, there was a
gasp and a cry--and somebody said in muffled accents:
Merciful goodness!
Anne and Diana were never able to tell just how they got off that bed
and out of the room. They only knew that after one frantic rush they
found themselves tiptoeing shiveringly upstairs.
Oh, who was it--_what_ was it? whispered Anne, her teeth chattering with
cold and fright.
It was Aunt Josephine, said Diana, gasping with laughter. Oh, Anne,
it was Aunt Josephine, however she came to be there. Oh, and I know she
will be furious. It s dreadful--it s really dreadful--but did you ever
know anything so funny, Anne?
Who is your Aunt Josephine?
She s father s aunt and she lives in Charlottetown. She s awfully
old--seventy anyhow--and I don t believe she was _ever_ a little girl. We
were expecting her out for a visit, but not so soon. She s awfully prim
and proper and she ll scold dreadfully about this, I know. Well, we ll
have to sleep with Minnie May--and you can t think how she kicks.
Miss Josephine Barry did not appear at the early breakfast the next
morning. Mrs. Barry smiled kindly at the two little girls.
Did you have a good time last night? I tried to stay awake until you
came home, for I wanted to tell you Aunt Josephine had come and that you
would have to go upstairs after all, but I was so tired I fell asleep. I
hope you didn t disturb your aunt, Diana.
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