ery desirable
pupil. You can never tell about those Yankees."

Mrs Lynde looked upon all people who had the misfortune to be born
or brought up elsewhere than in Prince Edward Island with a decided
can-any-good-thing-come-out-of-Nazareth air. They MIGHT be good people,
of course; but you were on the safe side in doubting it. She had a
special prejudice against "Yankees." Her husband had been cheated out
of ten dollars by an employer for whom he had once worked in Boston and
neither angels nor principalities nor powers could have convinced Mrs.
Rachel that the whole United States was not responsible for it.

"Avonlea school won't be the worse for a little new blood," said Marilla
drily, "and if this boy is anything like his father he'll be all right.
Steve Irving was the nicest boy that was ever raised in these parts,
though some people did call him proud. I should think Mrs. Irving would
be very glad to have the child. She has been very lonesome since her
husband died."

"Oh, the boy may be well enough, but he'll be different from Avonlea
children," said Mrs. Rachel, as if that clinched the matter. Mrs.
Rachel's opinions concerning any person, place, or thing, were always
warranted to wear. "What's this I hear about your going to start up a
Village Improvement Society, Anne?"

"I was just talking it over with some of the girls and boys at the last
Debating Club," said Anne, flushing. "They thought it would be rather
nice . . . and so do Mr. and Mrs. Allan. Lots of villages have them now."

"Well, you'll get into no end of hot water if you do. Better leave it
alone, Anne, that's what. People don't like being improved."

"Oh, we are not going to try to improve the PEOPLE. It is Avonlea
itself. There are lots of things which might be done to make it
prettier. For instance, if we could coax Mr. Levi Boulter to pull
down that dreadful old house on his upper farm wouldn't that be an
improvement?"

"It certainly would," admitted Mrs. Rachel. "That old ruin has been an
eyesore to the settlement for years. But if you Improvers can coax
Levi Boulter to do anything for the public that he isn't to be paid for
doing, may I be there to see and hear the process, that's what. I don't
want to discourage you, Anne, for there may be something in your idea,
though I suppose you did get it out of some rubbishy Yankee magazine;
but you'll have your hands full with your school and I advise you as a
friend not to bother with your impro