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〃I really did。 I COULD have； you know。 Come； let's all sit down
on this gravestone and get acquainted。 It won't be hard。 I know
we're going to adore each other I knew it as soon as I saw you
at Redmond this morning。 I wanted so much to go right over and
hug you both。〃
〃Why didn't you？〃 asked Priscilla。
〃Because I simply couldn't make up my mind to do it。 I never can
make up my mind about anything myself I'm always afflicted
with indecision。 Just as soon as I decide to do something I feel
in my bones that another course would be the correct one。 It's a
dreadful misfortune； but I was born that way； and there is no use
in blaming me for it； as some people do。 So I couldn't make up
my mind to go and speak to you； much as I wanted to。〃
〃We thought you were too shy；〃 said Anne。
〃No； no； dear。 Shyness isn't among the many failings or
virtues of Philippa Gordon Phil for short。 Do call me Phil
right off。 Now； what are your handles？〃
〃She's Priscilla Grant；〃 said Anne； pointing。
〃And SHE'S Anne Shirley；〃 said Priscilla； pointing in turn。
〃And we're from the Island；〃 said both together。
〃I hail from Bolingbroke； Nova Scotia；〃 said Philippa。
〃Bolingbroke！〃 exclaimed Anne。 〃Why； that is where I was born。〃
〃Do you really mean it？ Why； that makes you a Bluenose after all。〃
〃No； it doesn't；〃 retorted Anne。 〃Wasn't it Dan O'Connell who
said that if a man was born in a stable it didn't make him a horse？
I'm Island to the core。〃
〃Well； I'm glad you were born in Bolingbroke anyway。 It makes us
kind of neighbors； doesn't it？ And I like that； because when I tell
you secrets it won't be as if I were telling them to a stranger。
I have to tell them。 I can't keep secrets it's no use to try。
That's my worst failing that； and indecision； as aforesaid。
Would you believe it？ it took me half an hour to decide which
hat to wear when I was coming here HERE； to a graveyard！
At first I inclined to my brown one with the feather；
but as soon as I put it on I thought this pink one with the
floppy brim would be more becoming。 When I got IT pinned in
place I liked the brown one better。 At last I put them close
together on the bed； shut my eyes； and jabbed with a hat pin。
The pin speared the pink one； so I put it on。 It is becoming；
isn't it？ Tell me； what do you think of my looks？〃
At this naive demand； made in a perfectly serious tone； Priscilla
laughed again。 But Anne said； impulsively squeezing Philippa's
hand；
〃We thought this morning that you were the prettiest girl we saw
at Redmond。〃
Philippa's crooked mouth flashed into a bewitching； crooked smile
over very white little teeth。
〃I thought that myself；〃 was her next astounding statement；
〃but I wanted some one else's opinion to bolster mine up。
I can't decide even on my own appearance。 Just as soon as I've
decided that I'm pretty I begin to feel miserably that I'm not。
Besides； have a horrible old great…aunt who is always saying to me；
with a mournful sigh； ‘You were such a pretty baby。 It's strange how
children change when they grow up。' I adore aunts； but I detest great…
aunts。 Please tell me quite often that I am pretty； if you don't mind。
I feel so much more comfortable when I can believe I'm pretty。 And
I'll be just as obliging to you if you want me to I CAN be； with
a clear conscience。〃
〃Thanks；〃 laughed Anne； 〃but Priscilla and I are so firmly convinced
of our own good looks that we don't need any assurance about them；
so you needn't trouble。〃
〃Oh； you're laughing at me。 I know you think I'm abominably vain；
but I'm not。 There really isn't one spark of vanity in me。
And I'm never a bit grudging about paying compliments to other
girls when they deserve them。 I'm so glad I know you folks。
I came up on Saturday and I've nearly died of homesickness
ever since。 It's a horrible feeling； isn't it？ In Bolingbroke
I'm an important personage； and in Kingsport I'm just nobody！
There were times when I could feel my soul turning a delicate blue。
Where do you hang out？〃
〃Thirty…eight St。 John's Street。〃
〃Better and better。 Why； I'm just around the corner on Wallace Street。
I don't like my boardinghouse； though。 It's bleak and lonesome； and
my room looks out on such an unholy back yard。 It's the ugliest place
in the world。 As for cats well； surely ALL the Kingsport cats can't
congregate there at night； but half of them must。 I adore cats on
hearth rugs； snoozing before nice； friendly fires； but cats in back
yards at midnight are totally different animals。 The first night
I was here I cried all night； and so did the cats。 You should have
seen my nose in the morning。 How I wished I had never left home！〃
〃I don't know how you managed to make up your mind to come to
Redmond at all； if you are really such an undecided person；〃 said
amused Priscilla。
〃Bless your heart； honey； I didn't。 It was father who wanted me
to come here。 His heart was set on it why； I don't know。 It
seems perfectly ridiculous to think of me studying for a B。A。
degree； doesn't it？ Not but what I can do it； all right。
I have heaps of brains。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Priscilla vaguely。
〃Yes。 But it's such hard work to use them。 And B。A。's are such
learned； dignified； wise； solemn creatures they must be。 No；
_I_ didn't want to come to Redmond。 I did it just to oblige father。
He IS such a duck。 Besides； I knew if I stayed home I'd have to
get married。 Mother wanted that wanted it decidedly。 Mother
has plenty of decision。 But I really hated the thought of
being married for a few years yet。 I want to have heaps of fun
before I settle down。 And； ridiculous as the idea of my being a
B。A。 is； the idea of my being an old married woman is still more
absurd； isn't it？ I'm only eighteen。 No； I concluded I would
rather come to Redmond than be married。 Besides； how could I
ever have made up my mind which man to marry？〃
〃Were there so many？〃 laughed Anne。
〃Heaps。 The boys like me awfully they really do。 But there
were only two that mattered。 The rest were all too young and too
poor。 I must marry a rich man； you know。〃
〃Why must you？〃
〃Honey； you couldn't imagine ME being a poor man's wife； could you？
I can't do a single useful thing； and I am VERY extravagant。 Oh； no；
my husband must have heaps of money。 So that narrowed them down to two。
But I couldn't decide between two any easier than between two hundred。
I knew perfectly well that whichever one I chose I'd regret all my life
that I hadn't married the other。〃
〃Didn't you love either of them？〃 asked Anne； a little hesitatingly。
It was not easy for her to speak to a stranger of the great mystery and
transformation of life。
〃Goodness； no。 _I_ couldn't love anybody。 It isn't in me。
Besides I wouldn't want to。 Being in love makes you a perfect
slave； _I_ think。 And it would give a man such p