And now you 're looking disappointed . You do n't think I 'm half as interesting a person as you did five minutes ago when you believed I was always the prey of a tragic memory bravely hidden beneath external smiles . That 's the worst ... or the best ... of real life , Anne . It WO N'T let you be miserable . It keeps on trying to make you comfortable ... and succeeding ... even when you 're determined to be unhappy and romantic . Is n't this candy scrumptious ? I 've eaten far more than is good for me already but I 'm going to keep recklessly on . '' After a little silence Miss Lavendar said abruptly , `` It gave me a shock to hear about Stephen 's son that first day you were here , Anne . I 've never been able to mention him to you since , but I 've wanted to know all about him . What sort of a boy is he ? '' `` He is the dearest , sweetest child I ever knew , Miss Lavendar ... and he pretends things too , just as you and I do . '' `` I 'd like to see him , '' said Miss Lavendar softly , as if talking to herself . `` I wonder if he looks anything like the little dream-boy who lives here with me ... MY little dream-boy . '' `` If you would like to see Paul I 'll bring him through with me sometime , '' said Anne . `` I would like it ... but not too soon . I want to get used to the thought . There might be more pain than pleasure in it ... if he looked too much like Stephen ... or if he did n't look enough like him . In a month 's time you may bring him . '' Accordingly , a month later Anne and Paul walked through the woods to the stone house , and met Miss Lavendar in the lane . She had not been expecting them just then and she turned very pale .
`` So this is XXXXX 's boy , '' she said in a low tone , taking Paul 's hand and looking at him as he stood , beautiful and boyish , in his smart little fur coat and cap .
Anne Lavendar Miss Paul Stephen boy dream-boy life month time