don t feel that I could endure the disappointment if anything happened
to prevent me from getting to the picnic. I suppose I d live through it,
but I m certain it would be a lifelong sorrow. It wouldn t matter if
I got to a hundred picnics in after years; they wouldn t make up for
missing this one. They re going to have boats on the Lake of Shining
Waters--and ice cream, as I told you. I have never tasted ice cream.
Diana tried to explain what it was like, but I guess ice cream is one of
those things that are beyond imagination.
Anne, you have talked even on for ten minutes by the clock, said
Marilla. Now, just for curiosity s sake, see if you can hold your
tongue for the same length of time.
Anne held her tongue as desired. But for the rest of the week she talked
picnic and thought picnic and dreamed picnic. On Saturday it rained and
she worked herself up into such a frantic state lest it should keep
on raining until and over Wednesday that Marilla made her sew an extra
patchwork square by way of steadying her nerves.
On Sunday Anne confided to Marilla on the way home from church that she
grew actually cold all over with excitement when the minister announced
the picnic from the pulpit.
Such a thrill as went up and down my back, Marilla! I don t think I d
ever really believed until then that there was honestly going to be
a picnic. I couldn t help fearing I d only imagined it. But when a
minister says a thing in the pulpit you just have to believe it.
You set your heart too much on things, Anne, said Marilla, with a
sigh. I m afraid there ll be a great many disappointments in store for
you through life.
Oh, Marilla, looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them,
exclaimed Anne. You mayn t get the things themselves; but nothing can
prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them. Mrs.
Lynde says, Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be
disappointed. But I think it would be worse to expect nothing than to
be disappointed.
Marilla wore her amethyst brooch to church that day as usual. Marilla
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