Picture Dictionary & Books : Free for English Learner!

But just up the river a little way from the house there was a long green little valley, and the loveliest echo lived there.

It echoed back every word you said, even if you didn't talk a bit loud.

So I imagined that it was a little girl called Violetta and we were great friends and I loved her almost as well as I loved Katie Maurice-not quite, but almost, you know.

The night before I went to the asylum I said good-bye to Violetta, and oh, her good-bye came back to me in such sad, sad tones.

I had become so attached to her that I hadn't the heart to imagine a bosom friend at the asylum, even if there had been any scope for imagination there."

"I think it's just as well there wasn't," said Marilla drily.

"I don't approve of such goings-on.

You seem to half believe your own imaginations.

It will be well for you to have a real live friend to put such nonsense out of your head.

But don't let Mrs. Barry hear you talking about your Katie Maurices and your Violettas or she'll think you tell stories."

"Oh, I won't.

I couldn't talk of them to everybody-their memories are too sacred for that.

But I thought I'd like to have you know about them.

Oh, look, here's a big bee just tumbled out of an apple blossom.

Just think what a lovely place to live-in an apple blossom! Fancy going to sleep in it when the wind was rocking it.

If I wasn't a human girl I think I'd like to be a bee and live among the flowers."

"Yesterday you wanted to be a sea gull," sniffed Marilla. "I think you are very fickle minded. I told you to learn that prayer and not talk. But it seems impossible for you to stop talking if you've got anybody that will listen to you. So go up to your room and learn it."

"Oh, I know it pretty nearly all now-all but just the last line."

"Well, never mind, do as I tell you. Go to your room and finish learning it well, and stay there until I call you down to help me get tea."

"Can I take the apple blossoms with me for company?" pleaded Anne.

"No; you don't want your room cluttered up with flowers. You should have left them on the tree in the first place."

"I did feel a little that way, too," said Anne. "I kind of felt I shouldn't shorten their lovely lives by picking them-I wouldn't want to be picked if I were an apple blossom. But the temptation was IRRESISTIBLE. What do you do when you meet with an irresistible temptation?"

"Anne, did you hear me tell you to go to your room?"

Anne sighed, retreated to the east gable, and sat down in a chair by the window.

"There-I know this prayer.

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