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I tried to be as polite and dignified as I could be, for I wanted Mrs. Chester Ross to think I was a ladylike little girl even if I wasn't pretty.

Everything went right until I saw Marilla coming with the plum pudding in one hand and the pitcher of pudding sauce WARMED UP, in the other.

Diana, that was a terrible moment.

I remembered everything and I just stood up in my place and shrieked out 'Marilla, you mustn't use that pudding sauce.

There was a mouse drowned in it.

I forgot to tell you before.' Oh, Diana, I shall never forget that awful moment if I live to be a hundred.

Mrs. Chester Ross just LOOKED at me and I thought I would sink through the floor with mortification.

She is such a perfect housekeeper and fancy what she must have thought of us.

Marilla turned red as fire but she never said a word-then.

She just carried that sauce and pudding out and brought in some strawberry preserves.

She even offered me some, but I couldn't swallow a mouthful.

It was like heaping coals of fire on my head.

After Mrs. Chester Ross went away, Marilla gave me a dreadful scolding.

Why, Diana, what is the matter?"

Diana had stood up very unsteadily; then she sat down again, putting her hands to her head.

"I'm-I'm awful sick," she said, a little thickly. "I-I-must go right home."

"Oh, you mustn't dream of going home without your tea," cried Anne in distress. "I'll get it right off-I'll go and put the tea down this very minute."

"I must go home," repeated Diana, stupidly but determinedly.

"Let me get you a lunch anyhow," implored Anne. "Let me give you a bit of fruit cake and some of the cherry preserves. Lie down on the sofa for a little while and you'll be better. Where do you feel bad?"

"I must go home," said Diana, and that was all she would say. In vain Anne pleaded.

"I never heard of company going home without tea," she mourned. "Oh, Diana, do you suppose that it's possible you're really taking the smallpox? If you are I'll go and nurse you, you can depend on that. I'll never forsake you. But I do wish you'd stay till after tea. Where do you feel bad?"

"I'm awful dizzy," said Diana.

And indeed, she walked very dizzily.

Anne, with tears of disappointment in her eyes, got Diana's hat and went with her as far as the Barry yard fence.

Then she wept all the way back to Green Gables, where she sorrowfully put the remainder of the raspberry cordial back into the pantry and got tea ready for Matthew and Jerry, with all the zest gone out of the performance.

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