Warning: If you have a visual impairment, use the manuscript transcript version including the Lucy Maud Montgomery’s foot notes and contextual annotation references.

Chapter 23

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efforts to walk fences. Josie descended from her perch, and darted flushed with victory, and darted a defiant glance at Anne.

Anne tossed her head red braids.

“I don’t think it’s such a very wonderful thing to walk a little, low board fence,” she said. “I know a girl in Marysville who could walk the ridge-pole of a roof.”

“I don’t believe it,” said Josie flatly. “I don’t believe anybody could do it walk a ridge-pole. You couldn’t anyhow.”

“Couldn’t I?” cried Anne rashly.

“Then I dare you to do it,” said Josie defiantly. “I dare you to climb up there and walk the ridge-pole of Mr. Barry’s kitchen roof.”

Anne turned pale but there was clearly only one thing to be done. She


PHOTO ANNOTATION

detail of a gray, peaked roof, with a clear line of wood across the peak

"ridge-pole of a roof": In this detail of the south-east corner of the restored Macneill kitchen, you can see the ridge-pole.