I ve never been in the depths of despair, so I can t say, responded
Marilla.
Weren t you? Well, did you ever try to _imagine_ you were in the depths
of despair?
No, I didn t.
Then I don t think you can understand what it s like. It s a very
uncomfortable feeling indeed. When you try to eat a lump comes right
up in your throat and you can t swallow anything, not even if it was a
chocolate caramel. I had one chocolate caramel once two years ago and it
was simply delicious. I ve often dreamed since then that I had a lot
of chocolate caramels, but I always wake up just when I m going to eat
them. I do hope you won t be offended because I can t eat. Everything is
extremely nice, but still I cannot eat.
I guess she s tired, said Matthew, who hadn t spoken since his return
from the barn. Best put her to bed, Marilla.
Marilla had been wondering where Anne should be put to bed. She had
prepared a couch in the kitchen chamber for the desired and expected
boy. But, although it was neat and clean, it did not seem quite the
thing to put a girl there somehow. But the spare room was out of the
question for such a stray waif, so there remained only the east gable
room. Marilla lighted a candle and told Anne to follow her, which Anne
spiritlessly did, taking her hat and carpet-bag from the hall table as
she passed. The hall was fearsomely clean; the little gable chamber in
which she presently found herself seemed still cleaner.
Marilla set the candle on a three-legged, three-cornered table and
turned down the bedclothes.
I suppose you have a nightgown? she questioned.
Anne nodded.
Yes, I have two. The matron of the asylum made them for me. They re
fearfully skimpy. There is never enough to go around in an asylum, so
things are always skimpy--at least in a poor asylum like ours. I hate
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