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XXII. Odds and Ends
Marilla’seducationhadmadegreatstridesinthepastsixyears;butshehadnotyetbeenabletoridherselfoftheideathatitwasverybadforachildtohavetoomanyofitswishesindulged.
“AlltheboysofhisclasshaveIndianheaddresses,andDavywantsonetoo,”saidAnne.“Iknowhowitfeels...I’llneverforgethowIusedtolongforpuffedsleeveswhenalltheothergirlshadthem.AndDavyisn’tbeingspoiled.Heisimprovingeveryday.Thinkwhatadifferencethereisinhimsincehecamehereayearago.”
“Hecertainlydoesn’tgetintoasmuchmischiefsincehebegantogotoschool,”acknowledgedMarilla.“Isupposeheworksoffthetendencywiththeotherboys.Butit’sawondertomewehaven’theardfromRichardKeithbeforethis.NeverawordsincelastMay.”
“I’llbeafraidtohearfromhim,”sighedAnne,beginningtoclearawaythedishes.“IfalettershouldcomeI’ddreadopeningit,forfearitwouldtellustosendthetwinstohim.”
Amonthlateraletterdidcome.ButitwasnotfromRichardKeith.AfriendofhiswrotetosaythatRichardKeithhaddiedofconsumptionafortnightpreviously.ThewriteroftheletterwastheexecutorofhiswillandbythatwillthesumoftwothousanddollarswaslefttoMissMarillaCuthbertintrustforDavidandDoraKeithuntiltheycameofageormarried.Inthemeantimetheinterestwastobeusedfortheirmaintenance.
“Itseemsdreadfultobegladofanythinginconnectionwithadeath,”saidAnnesoberly.“I’msorryforpoorMr.Keith;butIAMgladthatwecankeepthetwins
