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"Yes, I believe she could," said Marilla dryly. "She does plenty of unofficial preaching as it is. Nobody has much of a chance to go wrong in Avonlea with Rachel to oversee them."

"Marilla," said Anne in a burst of confidence, "I want to tell you something and ask you what you think about it.

It has worried me terribly-on Sunday afternoons, that is, when I think specially about such matters.

I do really want to be good; and when I'm with you or Mrs. Allan or Miss Stacy I want it more than ever and I want to do just what would please you and what you would approve of.

But mostly when I'm with Mrs. Lynde I feel desperately wicked and as if I wanted to go and do the very thing she tells me I oughtn't to do.

I feel irresistibly tempted to do it.

Now, what do you think is the reason I feel like that? Do you think it's because I'm really bad and unregenerate?"

Marilla looked dubious for a moment. Then she laughed.

"If you are I guess I am too, Anne, for Rachel often has that very effect on me.

I sometimes think she'd have more of an influence for good, as you say yourself, if she didn't keep nagging people to do right.

There should have been a special commandment against nagging.

But there, I shouldn't talk so.

Rachel is a good Christian woman and she means well.

There isn't a kinder soul in Avonlea and she never shirks her share of work."

"I'm very glad you feel the same," said Anne decidedly.

"It's so encouraging.

I shan't worry so much over that after this.

But I dare say there'll be other things to worry me.

They keep coming up new all the time-things to perplex you, you know.

You settle one question and there's another right after.

There are so many things to be thought over and decided when you're beginning to grow up.

It keeps me busy all the time thinking them over and deciding what is right.

It's a serious thing to grow up, isn't it, Marilla? But when I have such good friends as you and Matthew and Mrs. Allan and Miss Stacy I ought to grow up successfully, and I'm sure it will be my own fault if I don't.

I feel it's a great responsibility because I have only the one chance.

If I don't grow up right I can't go back and begin over again.

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