II. Selling in Haste and Repenting at Leisure

           AnnedroveovertoCarmodyonashoppingexpeditionthenextafternoonandtookDianaBarrywithher.Dianawas,ofcourse,apledgedmemberoftheImprovementSociety,andthetwogirlstalkedaboutlittleelseallthewaytoCarmodyandback.

           “Theveryfirstthingweoughttodowhenwegetstartedistohavethathallpainted,”saidDiana,astheydrovepasttheAvonleahall,arathershabbybuildingsetdowninawoodedhollow,withsprucetreeshoodingitaboutonallsides.“It’sadisgracefullookingplaceandwemustattendtoitevenbeforewetrytogetMr.LeviBouldertopullhishousedown.Fathersayswe’llneversucceedinDOINGthat.LeviBoulteristoomeantospendthetimeitwouldtake.”

           “Perhapshe’lllettheboystakeitdowniftheypromisetohaultheboardsandsplitthemupforhimforkindlingwood,”saidAnnehopefully.“Wemustdoourbestandbecontenttogoslowlyatfirst.Wecan’texpecttoimproveeverythingallatonce.We’llhavetoeducatepublicsentimentfirst,ofcourse.”

           Dianawasn’texactlysurewhateducatingpublicsentimentmeant;butitsoundedfineandshefeltratherproudthatshewasgoingtobelongtoasocietywithsuchanaiminview.

           “Ithoughtofsomethinglastnightthatwecoulddo,Anne.Youknowthatthree-corneredpieceofgroundwheretheroadsfromCarmodyandNewbridgeandWhiteSandsmeet?It’sallgrownoverwithyoungspruce;butwouldn’titbenicetohavethemallclearedout,andjustleavethetwoorthreebirchtreesthatareonit?”

           “Splendid,”agreedAnnegaily.“Andhavearusticseatputunderthebirches.