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But I'll try to bear it all bravely if only you won't be cross with me, Marilla."

"There, there, I'm not cross," said Marilla. "You're an unlucky child, there's no doubt about that; but as you say, you'll have the suffering of it. Here now, try and eat some supper."

"Isn't it fortunate I've got such an imagination?" said Anne. "It will help me through splendidly, I expect. What do people who haven't any imagination do when they break their bones, do you suppose, Marilla?"

Anne had good reason to bless her imagination many a time and oft during the tedious seven weeks that followed.

But she was not solely dependent on it.

She had many visitors and not a day passed without one or more of the schoolgirls dropping in to bring her flowers and books and tell her all the happenings in the juvenile world of Avonlea.

"Everybody has been so good and kind, Marilla," sighed Anne happily, on the day when she could first limp across the floor.

"It isn't very pleasant to be laid up; but there is a bright side to it, Marilla.

You find out how many friends you have.

Why, even Superintendent Bell came to see me, and he's really a very fine man.

Not a kindred spirit, of course; but still I like him and I'm awfully sorry I ever criticized his prayers.

I believe now he really does mean them, only he has got into the habit of saying them as if he didn't.

He could get over that if he'd take a little trouble.

I gave him a good broad hint.

I told him how hard I tried to make my own little private prayers interesting.

He told me all about the time he broke his ankle when he was a boy.

It does seem so strange to think of Superintendent Bell ever being a boy.

Even my imagination has its limits, for I can't imagine THAT.

When I try to imagine him as a boy I see him with gray whiskers and spectacles, just as he looks in Sunday school, only small.

Now, it's so easy to imagine Mrs. Allan as a little girl.

Mrs. Allan has been to see me fourteen times.

Isn't that something to be proud of, Marilla? When a minister's wife has so many claims on her time! She is such a cheerful person to have visit you, too.

She never tells you it's your own fault and she hopes you'll be a better girl on account of it.

Mrs. Lynde always told me that when she came to see me; and she said it in a kind of way that made me feel she might hope I'd be a better girl but didn't really believe I would.

Even Josie Pye came to see me.

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