as for understanding her, I understand that
she is a confirmed busybody and I told her so."

"Oh, that must have hurt her feelings very much," said Anne
reproachfully. "How could you say such a thing? I said some dreadful
things to Mrs. Lynde long ago but it was when I had lost my temper. I
couldn't say them DELIBERATELY."

"It was the truth and I believe in telling the truth to everybody."

"But you don't tell the whole truth," objected Anne. "You only tell the
disagreeable part of the truth. Now, you've told me a dozen times that
my hair was red, but you've never once told me that I had a nice nose."

"I daresay you know it without any telling," chuckled Mr. Harrison.

"I know I have red hair too . . . although it's MUCH darker than it used
to be . . . so there's no need of telling me that either."

"Well, well, I'll try and not mention it again since you're so
sensitive. You must excuse me, Anne. I've got a habit of being outspoken
and folks mustn't mind it."

"But they can't help minding it. And I don't think it's any help
that it's your habit. What would you think of a person who went about
sticking pins and needles into people and saying, 'Excuse me, you
mustn't mind it . . . it's just a habit I've got.' You'd think he was
crazy, wouldn't you? And as for Mrs. Lynde being a busybody, perhaps she
is. But did you tell her she had a very kind heart and always helped the
poor, and never said a word when Timothy Cotton stole a crock of butter
out of her dairy and told his wife he'd bought it from her? Mrs. Cotton
cast it up to her the next time they met that it tasted of turnips and
Mrs. Lynde just said she was sorry it had turned out so poorly."

"I suppose she has some good qualities," conceded Mr. Harrison
grudgingly. "Most folks have. I have some myself, though you might never
suspect it. But anyhow I ain't going to give anything to that carpet.
Folks are everlasting begging for money here, it seems to me. How's your
project of painting the hall coming on?"

"Splendidly. We had a meeting of the A.V.I.S. last Friday night and
found that we had plenty of money subscribed to paint the hall and
shingle the roof too. MOST people gave very liberally, Mr. Harrison."

Anne was a sweet-souled lass, but she could instill some venom into
innocent italics when occasion required.

"What color are you going to have it?"

"We have decided on a very pretty green. The roof will be dark red, of
course. Mr. Roger Pye is