Priscilla , who would have had to cross the room to reach the kitchen door , lost her head , wildly plunged the chocolate cake under a cushion on the inglenook sofa , and dashed upstairs . Stella began feverishly gathering up her manuscript . Only Aunt Jamesina and Phil remained normal . Thanks to them , everybody was soon sitting at ease , even Anne . Priscilla came down , apronless and smudgeless , Stella reduced her corner to decency , and Phil saved the situation by a stream of ready small talk . Mrs. Gardner was tall and thin and handsome , exquisitely gowned , cordial with a cordiality that seemed a trifle forced . Aline Gardner was a younger edition of her mother , lacking the cordiality . She endeavored to be nice , but succeeded only in being haughty and patronizing . Dorothy Gardner was slim and jolly and rather tomboyish . Anne knew she was Roy 's favorite sister and warmed to her . She would have looked very much like Roy if she had had dreamy dark eyes instead of roguish hazel ones . Thanks to her and Phil , the call really went off very well , except for a slight sense of strain in the atmosphere and two rather untoward incidents . Rusty and Joseph , left to themselves , began a game of chase , and sprang madly into Mrs. Gardner 's silken lap and out of it in their wild career . Mrs. Gardner lifted her lorgnette and gazed after their flying forms as if she had never seen cats before , and Anne , choking back slightly nervous laughter , apologized as best she could . `` You are fond of cats ? '' said Mrs. Gardner , with a slight intonation of tolerant wonder . Anne , despite her affection for Rusty , was not especially fond of cats , but Mrs. Gardner 's tone annoyed her . Inconsequently she remembered that Mrs. John Blythe was so fond of cats that she kept as many as her husband would allow . `` They ARE adorable animals , are n't they ? '' she said wickedly .
`` I have never liked cats , '' said Mrs. XXXXX remotely .
Anne Blythe Gardner Jamesina Phil Priscilla Roy Rusty Stella lorgnette