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VIII. Marilla Adopts Twins
ForthefirsttimeinherlifeMarillatooknonoticeofthetextandAnnesatwithscarletcheeksofmortification.
WhentheygothomeMarillaputDavytobedandmadehimstaytherefortherestoftheday.Shewouldnotgivehimanydinnerbutallowedhimaplainteaofbreadandmilk.Annecarriedittohimandsatsorrowfullybyhimwhileheateitwithanunrepentantrelish.ButAnne’smournfuleyestroubledhim.
“Is’pose,”hesaidreflectively,“thatPaulIrvingwouldn’thavedroppedacaterpillardownagirl’sneckinchurch,wouldhe?”
“Indeedhewouldn’t,”saidAnnesadly.
“Well,I’mkindofsorryIdidit,then,”concededDavy.“Butitwassuchajollybigcaterpillar...Ipickedhimuponthechurchstepsjustaswewentin.Itseemedapitytowastehim.Andsay,wasn’titfuntohearthatgirlyell?”
TuesdayafternoontheAidSocietymetatGreenGables.Annehurriedhomefromschool,forsheknewthatMarillawouldneedalltheassistanceshecouldgive.Dora,neatandproper,inhernicelystarchedwhitedressandblacksash,wassittingwiththemembersoftheAidintheparlor,speakingdemurelywhenspokento,keepingsilencewhennot,andineverywaycomportingherselfasamodelchild.Davy,blissfullydirty,wasmakingmudpiesinthebarnyard.
“Itoldhimhemight,”saidMarillawearily.“Ithoughtitwouldkeephimoutofworsemischief.Hecanonlygetdirtyatthat.We’llhaveourteasoverbeforewecallhimtohis.Doracanhaveherswithus,butIwouldneverdaretoletDavysitdownatthetablewithalltheAidshere.
