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XXVII. An Afternoon at the Stone House
“there’ssomanycornersaboutafellowthatit’sawfulhardtorememberthemall.Well,ifIcan’tgotoMissLavendar’sI’llgooverandseeMrs.Harrison.Mrs.Harrison’sanawfulnicewoman,Itellyou.Shekeepsajarofcookiesinherpantrya-purposeforlittleboys,andshealwaysgivesmethescrapingsoutofapanshe’smixedupaplumcakein.Agoodmanyplumssticktothesides,yousee.Mr.Harrisonwasalwaysaniceman,buthe’stwiceasnicesincehegotmarriedoveragain.Iguessgettingmarriedmakesfolksnicer.Whydon’tYOUgetmarried,Marilla?Iwanttoknow.”
Marilla’sstateofsingleblessednesshadneverbeenasorepointwithher,sosheansweredamiably,withanexchangeofsignificantlookswithAnne,thatshesupposeditwasbecausenobodywouldhaveher.
“Butmaybeyouneveraskedanybodytohaveyou,”protestedDavy.
“Oh,Davy,”saidDoraprimly,shockedintospeakingwithoutbeingspokento,“it’stheMENthathavetodotheasking.”
“Idon’tknowwhytheyhavetodoitALWAYS,”grumbledDavy.“Seemstomeeverything’sputonthemeninthisworld.CanIhavesomemorepudding,Marilla?”
“You’vehadasmuchaswasgoodforyou,”saidMarilla;butshegavehimamoderatesecondhelping.
“Iwishpeoplecouldliveonpudding.Whycan’tthey,Marilla?Iwanttoknow.”
“Becausethey’dsoongettiredofit.”
“I’dliketotrythatformyself,”saidskepticalDavy.“ButIguessit’sbettertohavepuddingonlyonfishandcompanydaysthannoneatall.TheyneverhaveanyatMiltyBoulter’s.
