Diana preserved a discreet silence, but she and Anne exchanged furtive
smiles of guilty amusement across the table. Anne hurried home after
breakfast and so remained in blissful ignorance of the disturbance which
presently resulted in the Barry household until the late afternoon, when
she went down to Mrs. Lynde s on an errand for Marilla.
So you and Diana nearly frightened poor old Miss Barry to death last
night? said Mrs. Lynde severely, but with a twinkle in her eye. Mrs.
Barry was here a few minutes ago on her way to Carmody. She s feeling
real worried over it. Old Miss Barry was in a terrible temper when she
got up this morning--and Josephine Barry s temper is no joke, I can tell
you that. She wouldn t speak to Diana at all.
It wasn t Diana s fault, said Anne contritely. It was mine. I
suggested racing to see who would get into bed first.
I knew it! said Mrs. Lynde, with the exultation of a correct guesser.
I knew that idea came out of your head. Well, it s made a nice lot of
trouble, that s what. Old Miss Barry came out to stay for a month, but
she declares she won t stay another day and is going right back to town
tomorrow, Sunday and all as it is. She d have gone today if they could
have taken her. She had promised to pay for a quarter s music lessons
for Diana, but now she is determined to do nothing at all for such a
tomboy. Oh, I guess they had a lively time of it there this morning. The
Barrys must feel cut up. Old Miss Barry is rich and they d like to keep
on the good side of her. Of course, Mrs. Barry didn t say just that to
me, but I m a pretty good judge of human nature, that s what.
I m such an unlucky girl, mourned Anne. I m always getting into
scrapes myself and getting my best friends--people I d shed my heart s
blood for--into them too. Can you tell me why it is so, Mrs. Lynde?
It s because you re too heedless and impulsive, child, that s what. You
never stop to think--whatever comes into your head to say or do you say
or do it without a moment s reflection.
Oh, but that s the best of it, protested Anne. Something just flashes
into your mind, so exciting, and you must out with it. If you stop to
think it over you spoil it all. Haven t you never felt that yourself,
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