`` I 'm dreadful sorry , '' said Mrs. Spencer . `` It 's too bad ; but it certainly was n't my fault , you see , Miss Cuthbert . I did the best I could and I thought I was following your instructions . Nancy is a terrible flighty thing . I 've often had to scold her well for her heedlessness . '' `` It was our own fault , '' said Marilla resignedly . `` We should have come to you ourselves and not left an important message to be passed along by word of mouth in that fashion . Anyhow , the mistake has been made and the only thing to do is to set it right . Can we send the child back to the asylum ? I suppose they 'll take her back , wo n't they ? '' `` I suppose so , '' said Mrs. Spencer thoughtfully , `` but I do n't think it will be necessary to send her back . Mrs. Peter Blewett was up here yesterday , and she was saying to me how much she wished she 'd sent by me for a little girl to help her . Mrs. Peter has a large family , you know , and she finds it hard to get help . Anne will be the very girl for you . I call it positively providential . '' Marilla did not look as if she thought Providence had much to do with the matter . Here was an unexpectedly good chance to get this unwelcome orphan off her hands , and she did not even feel grateful for it . She knew Mrs. Peter Blewett only by sight as a small , shrewish-faced woman without an ounce of superfluous flesh on her bones . But she had heard of her . `` A terrible worker and driver , '' Mrs. Peter was said to be ; and discharged servant girls told fearsome tales of her temper and stinginess , and her family of pert , quarrelsome children .
Marilla felt a qualm of conscience at the thought of handing XXXXX over to her tender mercies .
Anne Blewett Cuthbert Nancy Peter Spencer heedlessness left right stinginess