Most of the kids today thinktheyre smart when
theyre just being sassy.
Mother,they send her to bed without any supper lots
of times and she criesherself to sleep.
Thatpicture opposite Poppa is Queen
Victoria.
Diana stared at her mother, all the wind taken out
of the sails ofher rhetorical question.
Old Tillie lived down at theHarbour Mouth and was a
very dirty ragged old woman.
I was only a CHILD then and it was easy to fool me,
said Diana inher stateliest manner.
She would have hated to be in MissFlorrie Flaggs
class . But you must learn to keep on this side of theborderline between the real
and the unreal.
For the second time, smiled Mother, I must remind
you of JennyPenny. Diana Blythe responded to the charm of that voice
instantly.
If I had my life tolive over again Id never imagine
ANYTHING.
Delilah somehow contrived to put ages of loneliness
and lovelinessinto that nobody. I can always solve aproblem more easily after Ive
had a voyage or two to the Islandsof Enchantment. Thank goodness, Ive kept limber,
she reflected. It was a big house, once white, now a muddy gray. I do not know much
about her but she seems to have a slow,kind, easy way with her. Two girls she met
giggled after they passed her.
You take yourimaginings a wee bit too
seriously.
But it keeps the rain out and I got sick of
livinground with relations. If youonly saw her, Mother, youd know she couldnt tell a
lie. Ihave not time to take it myself and it MUST go. Poppa was among themfrom the
start but at first I hadnt nothing to say to him.
After Miss Emmy had gone on Rilla went home with
her dreadfulsecret.