to her feet. "You have given me a hope. I shall always feel
that you are a benefactor. Oh, I could endure anything if I
only thought my hair would be a handsome auburn when I
grew up. It would be so much easier to be good if one's
hair was a handsome auburn, don't you think? And now
may I go out into your garden and sit on that bench under
the apple-trees while you and Marilla are talking? There is
so much more scope for imagination out there."

"Laws, yes, run along, child. And you can pick a bouquet
of them white June lilies over in the corner if you like."

As the door closed behind Anne Mrs. Lynde got briskly
up to light a lamp.

"She's a real odd little thing. Take this chair, Marilla;
it's easier than the one you've got; I just keep that for the
hired boy to sit on. Yes, she certainly is an odd child,
but there is something kind of taking about her after all.
I don't feel so surprised at you and Matthew keeping her as
I did--nor so sorry for you, either. She may turn out all
right. Of course, she has a queer way of expressing herself--
a little too--well, too kind of forcible, you know; but
she'll likely get over that now that she's come to live among
civilized folks. And then, her temper's pretty quick, I
guess; but there's one comfort, a child that has a quick
temper, just blaze up and cool down, ain't never likely to
be sly or deceitful. Preserve me from a sly child, that's
what. On the whole, Marilla, I kind of like her."