iss Andrews. It's
really a beautiful world."

"You won't have such a high opinion of it when you've lived as long
in it as I have," retorted Miss Eliza sourly, "and you won't be so
enthusiastic about improving it either. How is your mother, Diana? Dear
me, but she has failed of late. She looks terrible run down. And how
long is it before Marilla expects to be stone blind, Anne?"

"The doctor thinks her eyes will not get any worse if she is very
careful," faltered Anne.

Eliza shook her head.

"Doctors always talk like that just to keep people cheered up. I
wouldn't have much hope if I was her. It's best to be prepared for the
worst."

"But oughtn't we be prepared for the best too?" pleaded Anne. "It's just
as likely to happen as the worst."

"Not in my experience, and I've fifty-seven years to set against your
sixteen," retorted Eliza. "Going, are you? Well, I hope this new society
of yours will be able to keep Avonlea from running any further down hill
but I haven't much hope of it."

Anne and Diana got themselves thankfully out, and drove away as fast as
the fat pony could go. As they rounded the curve below the beech wood
a plump figure came speeding over Mr. Andrews' pasture, waving to them
excitedly. It was Catherine Andrews and she was so out of breath that
she could hardly speak, but she thrust a couple of quarters into Anne's
hand.

"That's my contribution to painting the hall," she gasped. "I'd like to
give you a dollar but I don't dare take more from my egg money for Eliza
would find it out if I did. I'm real interested in your society and I
believe you're going to do a lot of good. I'm an optimist. I HAVE to be,
living with Eliza. I must hurry back before she misses me . . . she thinks
I'm feeding the hens. I hope you'll have good luck canvassing, and don't
be cast down over what Eliza said. The world IS getting better . . . it
certainly is."

The next house was Daniel Blair's.

"Now, it all depends on whether his wife is home or not," said Diana,
as they jolted along a deep-rutted lane. "If she is we won't get a cent.
Everybody says Dan Blair doesn't dare have his hair cut without
asking her permission; and it's certain she's very close, to state it
moderately. She says she has to be just before she's generous. But Mrs.
Lynde says she's so much 'before' that generosity never catches up with
her at all."

Anne related their experience at the Blair place to Marilla that
evening.

"We tied the