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VIII. Marilla Adopts Twins
“Youcanbegintobeagentlemanwhenyouarealittleboy.AndgentlemenNEVERsnatchthingsfromladies...orforgettosaythankyou...orpullanybody’shair.”
“Theydon’thavemuchfun,that’safact,”saidDavyfrankly.“IguessI’llwaittillI’mgrownuptobeone.”
Marilla,witharesignedair,hadcutanotherpieceofcakeforDora.ShedidnotfeelabletocopewithDavyjustthen.Ithadbeenaharddayforher,whatwiththefuneralandthelongdrive.AtthatmomentshelookedforwardtothefuturewithapessimismthatwouldhavedonecredittoElizaAndrewsherself.
Thetwinswerenotnoticeablyalike,althoughbothwerefair.Dorahadlongsleekcurlsthatnevergotoutoforder.Davyhadacropoffuzzylittleyellowringletsalloverhisroundhead.Dora’shazeleyesweregentleandmild;Davy’swereasroguishanddancingasanelf’s.Dora’snosewasstraight,Davy’sapositivesnub;Dorahada“prunesandprisms”mouth,Davy’swasallsmiles;andbesides,hehadadimpleinonecheekandnoneintheother,whichgavehimadear,comical,lopsidedlookwhenhelaughed.Mirthandmischieflurkedineverycornerofhislittleface.
“They’dbettergotobed,”saidMarilla,whothoughtitwastheeasiestwaytodisposeofthem.“DorawillsleepwithmeandyoucanputDavyinthewestgable.You’renotafraidtosleepalone,areyou,Davy?”
“No;butIain’tgoingtobedforeversolongyet,”saidDavycomfortably.
“Oh,yes,youare.”Thatwasallthemuch-triedMarillasaid,butsomethinginhertonesquelchedevenDavy.
