it might help me. That sounded so prosaic; but to my surprise I found
it true. The ice cream was delicious, Marilla, and it was so lovely and
dissipated to be sitting there eating it at eleven o clock at night.
Diana said she believed she was born for city life. Miss Barry asked
me what my opinion was, but I said I would have to think it over very
seriously before I could tell her what I really thought. So I thought it
over after I went to bed. That is the best time to think things out. And
I came to the conclusion, Marilla, that I wasn t born for city life and
that I was glad of it. It s nice to be eating ice cream at brilliant
restaurants at eleven o clock at night once in a while; but as a regular
thing I d rather be in the east gable at eleven, sound asleep, but kind
of knowing even in my sleep that the stars were shining outside and that
the wind was blowing in the firs across the brook. I told Miss Barry
so at breakfast the next morning and she laughed. Miss Barry generally
laughed at anything I said, even when I said the most solemn things. I
don t think I liked it, Marilla, because I wasn t trying to be funny.
But she is a most hospitable lady and treated us royally.
Friday brought going-home time, and Mr. Barry drove in for the girls.
Well, I hope you ve enjoyed yourselves, said Miss Barry, as she bade
them good-bye.
Indeed we have, said Diana.
And you, Anne-girl?
I ve enjoyed every minute of the time, said Anne, throwing her arms
impulsively about the old woman s neck and kissing her wrinkled cheek.
Diana would never have dared to do such a thing and felt rather aghast
at Anne s freedom. But Miss Barry was pleased, and she stood on her
veranda and watched the buggy out of sight. Then she went back into her
big house with a sigh. It seemed very lonely, lacking those fresh young
lives. Miss Barry was a rather selfish old lady, if the truth must
be told, and had never cared much for anybody but herself. She valued
people only as they were of service to her or amused her. Anne had
amused her, and consequently stood high in the old lady s good graces.
But Miss Barry found herself thinking less about Anne s quaint speeches
than of her fresh enthusiasms, her transparent emotions, her little
winning ways, and the sweetness of her eyes and lips.
208