when they got away. Mrs. White had the newspapers gathered up before
they had their horse untied and as they drove out of the yard they saw
her busily wielding a broom in the hall.

"I've always heard that Mrs. Theodore White was the neatest woman
alive and I'll believe it after this," said Diana, giving way to her
suppressed laughter as soon as it was safe.

"I am glad she has no children," said Anne solemnly. "It would be
dreadful beyond words for them if she had."

At the Spencers' Mrs. Isabella Spencer made them miserable by saying
something ill-natured about everyone in Avonlea. Mr. Thomas Boulter
refused to give anything because the hall, when it had been built,
twenty years before, hadn't been built on the site he recommended. Mrs.
Esther Bell, who was the picture of health, took half an hour to detail
all her aches and pains, and sadly put down fifty cents because she
wouldn't be there that time next year to do it . . . no, she would be in
her grave.

Their worst reception, however, was at Simon Fletcher's. When they
drove into the yard they saw two faces peering at them through the porch
window. But although they rapped and waited patiently and persistently
nobody came to the door. Two decidedly ruffled and indignant girls drove
away from Simon Fletcher's. Even Anne admitted that she was beginning
to feel discouraged. But the tide turned after that. Several Sloane
homesteads came next, where they got liberal subscriptions, and from
that to the end they fared well, with only an occasional snub. Their
last place of call was at Robert Dickson's by the pond bridge. They
stayed to tea here, although they were nearly home, rather than risk