He does n't drink , he does n't smoke , he does n't steal , he does n't tell fibs , he never loses his temper , he does n't swear , and he goes to church regularly . Such a faultless creature as that would certainly get on my nerves . No , no , you 'll have to pick out another mistress for your new house at the Bridge , Aunt Louisa . '' When the apple trees , that had been pink and white in June , were russet and bronze in October , Mrs. Eben had a quilting . The quilt was of the `` Rising Star '' pattern , which was considered in Avonlea to be very handsome . Mrs. Eben had intended it for part of Sara 's `` setting out , '' and , while she sewed the red-and-white diamonds together , she had regaled her fancy by imagining she saw it spread out on the spare-room bed of the house at Newbridge , with herself laying her bonnet and shawl on it when she went to see Sara . Those bright visions had faded with the apple blossoms , and Mrs. Eben hardly had the heart to finish the quilt at all . The quilting came off on Saturday afternoon , when Sara could be home from school . All Mrs. Eben 's particular friends were ranged around the quilt , and tongues and fingers flew . Sara flitted about , helping her aunt with the supper preparations . She was in the room , getting the custard dishes out of the cupboard , when Mrs. George Pye arrived . Mrs. George had a genius for being late . She was later than usual to-day , and she looked excited . Every woman around the `` Rising Star '' felt that Mrs. George had some news worth listening to , and there was an expectant silence while she pulled out her chair and settled herself at the quilt . She was a tall , thin woman with a long pale face and liquid green eyes . As she looked around the circle she had the air of a cat daintily licking its chops over some titbit . `` I suppose , '' she said , `` that you have heard the news ? '' She knew perfectly well that they had not . Every other woman at the frame stopped quilting . Mrs. Eben came to the door with a pan of puffy , smoking-hot soda biscuits in her hand .
Sara stopped counting the XXXXX dishes , and turned her ripely-colored face over her shoulder .
Avonlea Eben Louisa Pye Sara afternoon custard fibs quilt quilting