might as well tell Matthew not to breathe as not to work. Come and lay
off your things, Rachel. You ll stay to tea?
Well, seeing you re so pressing, perhaps I might as well, stay said
Mrs. Rachel, who had not the slightest intention of doing anything else.
Mrs. Rachel and Marilla sat comfortably in the parlor while Anne got the
tea and made hot biscuits that were light and white enough to defy even
Mrs. Rachel s criticism.
I must say Anne has turned out a real smart girl, admitted Mrs.
Rachel, as Marilla accompanied her to the end of the lane at sunset.
She must be a great help to you.
She is, said Marilla, and she s real steady and reliable now. I used
to be afraid she d never get over her featherbrained ways, but she has
and I wouldn t be afraid to trust her in anything now.
I never would have thought she d have turned out so well that first day
I was here three years ago, said Mrs. Rachel. Lawful heart, shall I
ever forget that tantrum of hers! When I went home that night I says to
Thomas, says I, Mark my words, Thomas, Marilla Cuthbert ll live to
rue the step she s took. But I was mistaken and I m real glad of it. I
ain t one of those kind of people, Marilla, as can never be brought to
own up that they ve made a mistake. No, that never was my way, thank
goodness. I did make a mistake in judging Anne, but it weren t no
wonder, for an odder, unexpecteder witch of a child there never was in
this world, that s what. There was no ciphering her out by the rules
that worked with other children. It s nothing short of wonderful how
she s improved these three years, but especially in looks. She s a real
pretty girl got to be, though I can t say I m overly partial to that
pale, big-eyed style myself. I like more snap and color, like Diana
Barry has or Ruby Gillis. Ruby Gillis s looks are real showy. But
somehow--I don t know how it is but when Anne and them are together,
though she ain t half as handsome, she makes them look kind of common
and overdone--something like them white June lilies she calls narcissus
alongside of the big, red peonies, that s what.
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