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It passed an hour Then, just as Anne laid down the last shining spoon, they heard the front door shut Both sought comfort fearfully in each other's eyes

"Oh, Miss Shirley,away this early there's nothing into it and never will be" They flew to theMr Irving had no intention of going away He and Miss Lavendar were strolling slowly down the middle path to the stone bench

"Oh, Miss Shirley, ot his arhtedly "He must have proposed to her or she'd never allow it"

Anne caught Charlotta the Fourth by her own plump waist and danced her around the kitchen until they were both out of breath

"Oh, Charlotta," she cried gaily, "I'hter of a prophetess but I' in this old stone house before the maple leaves are red Do you want that translated into prose, Charlotta?"

"No, I can understand that," said Charlotta "A wedding ain't poetry

Why, Miss Shirley, ! What for?"

"Oh, because it's all so beautifuland story bookishand ro the tears out of her eyes

"It's all perfectly lovelybut there's a little sadness mixed up in it too, so anybody," conceded Charlotta the Fourth, "but, when all's said and done, Miss Shirley,than a husband"