Picture Dictionary & Books : Free for English Learner!

I wish I had dimples in my cheeks, Marilla.

I'm not half so skinny as I was when I came here, but I have no dimples yet.

If I had perhaps I could influence people for good.

Mrs. Allan said we ought always to try to influence other people for good.

She talked so nice about everything.

I never knew before that religion was such a cheerful thing.

I always thought it was kind of melancholy, but Mrs. Allan's isn't, and I'd like to be a Christian if I could be one like her.

I wouldn't want to be one like Mr. Superintendent Bell."

"It's very naughty of you to speak so about Mr. Bell," said Marilla severely. "Mr. Bell is a real good man."

"Oh, of course he's good," agreed Anne, "but he doesn't seem to get any comfort out of it.

If I could be good I'd dance and sing all day because I was glad of it.

I suppose Mrs. Allan is too old to dance and sing and of course it wouldn't be dignified in a minister's wife.

But I can just feel she's glad she's a Christian and that she'd be one even if she could get to heaven without it."

"I suppose we must have Mr. and Mrs. Allan up to tea someday soon," said Marilla reflectively.

"They've been most everywhere but here.

Let me see.

Next Wednesday would be a good time to have them.

But don't say a word to Matthew about it, for if he knew they were coming he'd find some excuse to be away that day.

He'd got so used to Mr. Bentley he didn't mind him, but he's going to find it hard to get acquainted with a new minister, and a new minister's wife will frighten him to death."

"I'll be as secret as the dead," assured Anne. "But oh, Marilla, will you let me make a cake for the occasion? I'd love to do something for Mrs. Allan, and you know I can make a pretty good cake by this time."

"You can make a layer cake," promised Marilla.

Monday and Tuesday great preparations went on at Green Gables.

Having the minister and his wife to tea was a serious and important undertaking, and Marilla was determined not to be eclipsed by any of the Avonlea housekeepers.

Anne was wild with excitement and delight.

She talked it all over with Diana Tuesday night in the twilight, as they sat on the big red stones by the Dryad's Bubble and made rainbows in the water with little twigs dipped in fir balsam.

Table of Contents