“Maybe you could find one like it somewhere
and buy it for her.”
“I’m afraid not. Platters as old
as that are very scarce. Mrs. Lynde couldn’t
find one anywhere for the supper. I only wish
I could, for of course Miss Barry would just as soon
have one platter as another, if both were equally
old and genuine. Marilla, look at that big star
over Mr. Harrison’s maple grove, with all that
holy hush of silvery sky about it. It gives me
a feeling that is like a prayer. After all, when
one can see stars and skies like that, little disappointments
and accidents can’t matter so much, can they?”
“Where’s Davy?” said Marilla, with
an indifferent glance at the star.
“In bed. I’ve promised to take him
and Dora to the shore for a picnic tomorrow.
Of course, the original agreement was that he must
be good. But he tried to be good . . . and
I hadn’t the heart to disappoint him.”
“You’ll drown yourself or the twins, rowing
about the pond in that flat,” grumbled Marilla.
“I’ve lived here for sixty years and I’ve
never been on the pond yet.”
“Well, it’s never too late to mend,”
said Anne roguishly. “Suppose you come
with us tomorrow. We’ll shut Green Gables
up and spend the whole day at the shore, daffing the
world aside.”
“No, thank you,” said Marilla, with indignant
emphasis. “I’d be a nice sight, wouldn’t
I, rowing down the pond in a flat? I think I hear
Rachel pronouncing on it. There’s Mr. Harrison
driving away somewhere. Do you suppose there
is any truth in the gossip that Mr. Harrison is going
to see Isabella Andrews?”
“No, I’m sure there isn’t.
He just called there one evening on business with
Mr. Harmon Andrews and Mrs. Lynde saw him and said
she knew he was courting because he had a white collar
on. I don’t believe Mr. Harrison will ever
marry. He seems to have a prejudice against marriage.”
“Well, you can never tell about those old bachelors.
And if he had a white collar on I’d agree with
Rachel that it looks suspicious, for I’m sure
he never was seen with one before.”
“I think he only put it on because he wanted
to conclude a business deal with Harmon Andrews,”
said Anne. “I’ve heard him say that’s
the only time a man needs to be particular about his
appearance, because if he looks prosperous the party
of the second part won’t be so likely to try
to cheat him. I really feel sorry for Mr. Harrison;
I don’t believe he feels satisfied with his
life. It must be very lonely to have no one to
care about except a parrot, don’t you think?
But I notice Mr. Harrison doesn’t like to be
pitied. Nobody does, I imagine.”
“There’s Gilbert coming up the lane,”
said Marilla. “If he wants you to go for
a row on the pond mind you put on your coat and rubbers.
There’s a heavy dew tonight.”
An Adventure on the Tory Road
“Anne,” said Davy, sitting up in bed and
propping his chin on his hands, “Anne, where
is sleep? People go to sleep every night, and
of course I know it’s the place where I do the
things I dream, but I want to know where it is
and how I get there and back without knowing anything
about it . . . and in my nighty too. Where is
it?”
