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one for us。〃
〃Stop it； Pris。 ‘The best is yet to be。' Like the old Roman；
we'll find a house or build one。 On a day like this there's
no such word as fail in my bright lexicon。〃
They lingered in the park until sunset； living in the amazing
miracle and glory and wonder of the springtide； and they went
home as usual； by way of Spofford Avenue； that they might have
the delight of looking at Patty's Place。
〃I feel as if something mysterious were going to happen right
away ‘by the pricking of my thumbs；' 〃 said Anne； as they went
up the slope。 〃It's a nice story…bookish feeling。 Why why
why！ Priscilla Grant； look over there and tell me if it's true；
or am I seein' things？〃
Priscilla looked。 Anne's thumbs and eyes had not deceived her。
Over the arched gateway of Patty's Place dangled a little； modest
sign。 It said 〃To Let； Furnished。 Inquire Within。〃
〃Priscilla；〃 said Anne； in a whisper； 〃do you suppose it's
possible that we could rent Patty's Place？〃
〃No； I don't；〃 averred Priscilla。 〃It would be too good to be
true。 Fairy tales don't happen nowadays。 I won't hope； Anne。
The disappointment would be too awful to bear。 They're sure to
want more for it than we can afford。 Remember； it's on Spofford
Avenue。〃
〃We must find out anyhow；〃 said Anne resolutely。 〃It's too late
to call this evening； but we'll come tomorrow。 Oh； Pris； if we
can get this darling spot！ I've always felt that my fortunes
were linked with Patty's Place； ever since I saw it first。〃
Chapter X
Patty's Place
The next evening found them treading resolutely the herring…bone
walk through the tiny garden。 The April wind was filling the
pine trees with its roundelay； and the grove was alive with robins
great； plump； saucy fellows； strutting along the paths。
The girls rang rather timidly； and were admitted by a grim and
ancient handmaiden。 The door opened directly into a large
living…room； where by a cheery little fire sat two other ladies；
both of whom were also grim and ancient。 Except that one looked
to be about seventy and the other fifty； there seemed little
difference between them。 Each had amazingly big； light…blue eyes
behind steel…rimmed spectacles； each wore a cap and a gray shawl；
each was knitting without haste and without rest； each rocked
placidly and looked at the girls without speaking； and just
behind each sat a large white china dog； with round green spots
all over it； a green nose and green ears。 Those dogs captured
Anne's fancy on the spot； they seemed like the twin guardian
deities of Patty's Place。
For a few minutes nobody spoke。 The girls were too nervous to
find words； and neither the ancient ladies nor the china dogs
seemed conversationally inclined。 Anne glanced about the room。
What a dear place it was！ Another door opened out of it directly
into the pine grove and the robins came boldly up on the very step。
The floor was spotted with round； braided mats； such as Marilla
made at Green Gables； but which were considered out of date
everywhere else； even in Avonlea。 And yet here they were on
Spofford Avenue！ A big； polished grandfather's clock ticked
loudly and solemnly in a corner。 There were delightful little
cupboards over the mantelpiece； behind whose glass doors gleamed
quaint bits of china。 The walls were hung with old prints and
silhouettes。 In one corner the stairs went up； and at the first
low turn was a long window with an inviting seat。 It was all
just as Anne had known it must be。
By this time the silence had grown too dreadful； and Priscilla
nudged Anne to intimate that she must speak。
〃We we saw by your sign that this house is to let；〃 said Anne
faintly； addressing the older lady； who was evidently Miss Patty Spofford。
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Miss Patty。 〃I intended to take that sign down today。〃
〃Then then we are too late；〃 said Anne sorrowfully。 〃You've let it
to some one else？〃
〃No； but we have decided not to let it at all。〃
〃Oh； I'm so sorry；〃 exclaimed Anne impulsively。 〃I love this place so。
I did hope we could have got it。〃
Then did Miss Patty lay down her knitting； take off her specs；
rub them； put them on again； and for the first time look at Anne
as at a human being。 The other lady followed her example so
perfectly that she might as well have been a reflection in a mirror。
〃You LOVE it；〃 said Miss Patty with emphasis。 〃Does that mean
that you really LOVE it？ Or that you merely like the looks of it？
The girls nowadays indulge in such exaggerated statements that one
never can tell what they DO mean。 It wasn't so in my young days。
THEN a girl did not say she LOVED turnips； in just the same tone
as she might have said she loved her mother or her Savior。〃
Anne's conscience bore her up。
〃I really do love it；〃 she said gently。 〃I've loved it ever since
I saw it last fall。 My two college chums and I want to keep house
next year instead of boarding； so we are looking for a little place
to rent； and when I saw that this house was to let I was so happy。〃
〃If you love it； you can have it；〃 said Miss Patty。 〃Maria and I
decided today that we would not let it after all； because we did
not like any of the people who have wanted it。 We don't HAVE to
let it。 We can afford to go to Europe even if we don't let it。
It would help us out； but not for gold will I let my home pass
into the possession of such people as have come here and looked
at it。 YOU are different。 I believe you do love it and will be
good to it。 You can have it。〃
〃If if we can afford to pay what you ask for it；〃 hesitated Anne。
Miss Patty named the amount required。 Anne and Priscilla looked
at each other。 Priscilla shook her head。
〃I'm afraid we can't afford quite so much；〃 said Anne； choking
back her disappointment。 〃You see； we are only college girls
and we are poor。〃
〃What were you thinking you could afford？〃 demanded Miss Patty；
ceasing not to knit。
Anne named her amount。 Miss Patty nodded gravely。
〃That will do。 As I told you； it is not strictly necessary that
we should let it at all。 We are not rich； but we have enough to
go to Europe on。 I have never been in Europe in my life； and never
expected or wanted to go。 But my niece there； Maria Spofford； has
taken a fancy to go。 Now； you know a young person like Maria can't
go globetrotting alone。〃
〃No I I suppose not；〃 murmured Anne； seeing that Miss Patty
was quite solemnly in earnest。
〃Of course not。 So I have to go along to look after her。 I expect to
enjoy it； too； I'm seventy years old； but I'm not tired of living yet。
I daresay I'd have gone to Europe before if the idea had occurred to me。
We shall be away for two years； perhaps three。 We sail in June and we
shall send you the key； and leave all in order for you to take
possession when you choose。 We shall pack away a few things we
prize