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VII. The Pointing of Duty
shedidn’tsaysobutsheLOOKEDit.”
“Oh!”Anneclaspedherhands,allathrillwithexcitement.“Andofcourseyouwill,Marilla,won’tyou?”
“Ihaven’tmadeupmymind,”saidMarillarathertartly.“Idon’trushintothingsinyourheadlongway,Anne.Thirdcousinshipisaprettyslimclaim.Anditwillbeafearfulresponsibilitytohavetwochildrenofsixyearstolookafter...twins,atthat.”
Marillahadanideathattwinswerejusttwiceasbadassinglechildren.
“Twinsareveryinteresting...atleastonepairofthem,”saidAnne.“It’sonlywhentherearetwoorthreepairsthatitgetsmonotonous.AndIthinkitwouldberealniceforyoutohavesomethingtoamuseyouwhenI’mawayinschool.”
“Idon’treckonthere’dbemuchamusementinit...moreworryandbotherthananythingelse,Ishouldsay.Itwouldn’tbesoriskyiftheywereevenasoldasyouwerewhenItookyou.Iwouldn’tmindDorasomuch...sheseemsgoodandquiet.ButthatDavyisalimb.”
AnnewasfondofchildrenandherheartyearnedovertheKeithtwins.Theremembranceofherownneglectedchildhoodwasveryvividwithherstill.SheknewthatMarilla’sonlyvulnerablepointwashersterndevotiontowhatshebelievedtobeherduty,andAnneskillfullymarshalledherargumentsalongthisline.
“IfDavyisnaughtyit’sallthemorereasonwhyheshouldhavegoodtraining,isn’tit,Marilla?Ifwedon’ttakethemwedon’tknowwhowill,norwhatkindofinfluencesmaysurroundthem.SupposeMrs.Keith’snextdoorneighbors,theSprotts,weretotakethem.Mrs
