Chapter 13
197
but I’ve never—”
“Yes, I told you to come at two o’clock. And it’s a quarter to three. I’d like to inq know why you didn’t obey me, Anne?”
“Why, I meant to, Marilla, Bu as much as could be. But you’ve no idea how in fascinating Idlewild is. And then, of course, I had to tell Matthew about the picnic. Please can I go Matthew is such a sympathetic listener. Please can I go?”
“You’ll have to learn to resist the fascination of Idle-whatever-you-call-it. When I tell you to come in at a certain time I mean that time and not half an hour later. And you needn’t stop to discourse with sympathetic listeners on your way, either. As for the picnic, of course you can go.
PHOTO ANNOTATION
"tell Matthew about the picnic": Many communities would hold a large annual picnic, like this one, on a stereograph card from 1900. Notice how everyone is dressed up and that the children are eating something from bowls, perhaps ice cream.
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