XXII. Odds and Ends

           “SoyouhadteaatthestonehousewithLavendarLewis?”saidMarillaatthebreakfasttablenextmorning.“Whatisshelikenow?It’soverfifteenyearssinceIsawherlast...itwasoneSundayinGraftonchurch.Isupposeshehaschangedagreatdeal.DavyKeith,whenyouwantsomethingyoucan’treach,asktohaveitpassedanddon’tspreadyourselfoverthetableinthatfashion.DidyoueverseePaulIrvingdoingthatwhenhewasheretomeals?”

           “ButPaul’sarmsarelonger’nmine,”brumbledDavy.“They’vehadelevenyearstogrowandmine’veonlyhadseven.‘Sides,IDIDask,butyouandAnnewassobusytalkingyoudidn’tpayany‘tention.‘Sides,Paul’sneverbeenheretoanymealescepttea,andit’seasiertobep’liteatteathanatbreakfast.Youain’thalfashungry.It’sanawfullongwhilebetweensupperandbreakfast.Now,Anne,thatspoonfulain’tanybiggerthanitwaslastyearandI’Meversomuchbigger.”

           “Ofcourse,Idon’tknowwhatMissLavendarusedtolooklikebutIdon’tfancysomehowthatshehaschangedagreatdeal,”saidAnne,aftershehadhelpedDavytomaplesyrup,givinghimtwospoonfulstopacifyhim.“Herhairissnow-whitebutherfaceisfreshandalmostgirlish,andshehasthesweetestbrowneyes...suchaprettyshadeofwood-brownwithlittlegoldenglintsinthem...andhervoicemakesyouthinkofwhitesatinandtinklingwaterandfairybellsallmixeduptogether.”

           “Shewasreckonedagreatbeautywhenshewasagirl,”saidMarilla.