Chapter XIII - Page 2

Getting through with her "ohs" Anne cast herself into Marilla's
arms and rapturously kissed her sallow cheek. It was the first
time in her whole life that childish lips had voluntarily touched
Marilla's face. Again that sudden sensation of startling
sweetness thrilled her. She was secretly vastly pleased at
Anne's impulsive caress, which was probably the reason why she
said brusquely:

"There, there, never mind your kissing nonsense. I'd sooner see
you doing strictly as you're told. As for cooking, I mean to
begin giving you lessons in that some of these days. But you're
so featherbrained, Anne, I've been waiting to see if you'd sober
down a little and learn to be steady before I begin. You've got
to keep your wits about you in cooking and not stop in the middle
of things to let your thoughts rove all over creation. Now, get
out your patchwork and have your square done before teatime."

"I do NOT like patchwork," said Anne dolefully, hunting out her
workbasket and sitting down before a little heap of red and white
diamonds with a sigh. "I think some kinds of sewing would be
nice; but there's no scope for imagination in patchwork. It's
just one little seam after another and you never seem to be
getting anywhere. But of course I'd rather be Anne of Green
Gables sewing patchwork than Anne of any other place with nothing
to do but play. I wish time went as quick sewing patches as it
does when I'm playing with Diana, though. Oh, we do have such
elegant times, Marilla. I have to furnish most of the
imagination, but I'm well able to do that. Diana is simply
perfect in every other way. You know that little piece of land
across the brook that runs up between our farm and Mr. Barry's.
It belongs to Mr. William Bell, and right in the corner there is
a little ring of white birch trees--the most romantic spot,
Marilla. Diana and I have our playhouse there. We call it
Idlewild. Isn't that a poetical name? I assure you it took me
some time to think it out. I stayed awake nearly a whole night
before I invented it. Then, just as I was dropping off to sleep,
it came like an inspiration. Diana was ENRAPTURED when she heard
it. We have got our house fixed up elegantly. You must come and
see it, Marilla--won't you? We have great big stones, all
covered with moss, for seats, and boards from tree to tree for
shelves. And we have all our dishes on them. Of course, they're
all broken but it's the easiest thing in the world to imagine
that they are whole. There's a piece of a plate with a spray of
red and yellow ivy on it that is especially beautiful. We keep
it in the parlor and we have the fairy glass there, too. The
fairy glass is as lovely as a dream. Diana found it out in the
woods behind their chicken