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XXVI. Around the Bend
”Dianaadmittedthissomewhatresentfully.“LastnightwhenIsawherinMr.Blair’sstoreshewhisperedtomethatshe’djustmadeanew‘mash.’Iwouldn’taskherwhoitwas,becauseIknewshewasdyingtoBEasked.Well,it’swhatRubyalwayswanted,Isuppose.Yourememberevenwhenshewaslittleshealwayssaidshemeanttohavedozensofbeauswhenshegrewupandhavetheverygayesttimeshecouldbeforeshesettleddown.She’ssodifferentfromJane,isn’tshe?Janeissuchanice,sensible,lady-likegirl.”
“DearoldJaneisajewel,”agreedAnne,“but,”sheadded,leaningforwardtobestowatenderpatontheplump,dimpledlittlehandhangingoverherpillow,“there’snobodylikemyownDianaafterall.Doyourememberthateveningwefirstmet,Diana,and‘swore’eternalfriendshipinyourgarden?We’vekeptthat‘oath,’Ithink...we’veneverhadaquarrelnorevenacoolness.Ishallneverforgetthethrillthatwentovermethedayyoutoldmeyoulovedme.Ihadhadsuchalonely,starvedheartallthroughmychildhood.I’mjustbeginningtorealizehowstarvedandlonelyitreallywas.Nobodycaredanythingformeorwantedtobebotheredwithme.Ishouldhavebeenmiserableifithadn’tbeenforthatstrangelittledream-lifeofmine,whereinIimaginedallthefriendsandloveIcraved.ButwhenIcametoGreenGableseverythingwaschanged.AndthenImetyou.Youdon’tknowwhatyourfriendshipmeanttome.Iwanttothankyouhereandnow,dear,forthewarmandtrueaffectionyou’vealwaysgivenme
