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XXVI. Around the Bend
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ThesetwodecisionsbeingnoisedabroadspeedilyoustedthearrivalofMrs.Harrisoninpopulargossip.SageheadswereshakenoverMarillaCuthbert’srashstepinaskingMrs.Racheltolivewithher.Peopleopinedthattheywouldn’tgetontogether.Theywereboth“toofondoftheirownway,”andmanydolefulpredictionsweremade,noneofwhichdisturbedthepartiesinquestionatall.Theyhadcometoaclearanddistinctunderstandingoftherespectivedutiesandrightsoftheirnewarrangementsandmeanttoabidebythem.
“Iwon’tmeddlewithyounoryouwithme,”Mrs.Rachelhadsaiddecidedly,“andasforthetwins,I’llbegladtodoallIcanforthem;butIwon’tundertaketoanswerDavy’squestions,that’swhat.I’mnotanencyclopedia,neitheramIaPhiladelphialawyer.You’llmissAnneforthat.”
“SometimesAnne’sanswerswereaboutasqueerasDavy’squestions,”saidMarilladrily.“Thetwinswillmissherandnomistake;butherfuturecan’tbesacrificedtoDavy’sthirstforinformation.WhenheasksquestionsIcan’tanswerI’lljusttellhimchildrenshouldbeseenandnotheard.ThatwashowIwasbroughtup,andIdon’tknowbutwhatitwasjustasgoodawayasallthesenew-fanglednotionsfortrainingchildren.”
“Well,Anne’smethodsseemtohaveworkedfairlywellwithDavy,”saidMrs.Lyndesmilingly.“Heisareformedcharacter,that’swhat.”
“Heisn’tabadlittlesoul,”concededMarilla.“IneverexpectedtogetasfondofthosechildrenasIhave.Davygetsroundyousomehow...
