Stephen walked home with Prissy from prayer meeting four nights before Emmeline found it out . Emmeline had n't been going to prayer meeting all that summer because she was mad at Mr. Leonard . She had expressed her disapproval to him because he had buried old Naomi Clark at the harbour `` just as if she was a Christian , '' and Mr. Leonard had said something to her she could n't get over for a while . I do n't know what it was , but I know that when Mr. Leonard WAS roused to rebuke anyone the person so rebuked remembered it for a spell . All at once I knew she must have discovered about Stephen and Prissy , for Prissy stopped going to prayer meeting . I felt real worried about it , someway , and although Thomas said for goodness ' sake not to go poking my fingers into other people 's pies , I felt as if I ought to do something . Stephen Clark was a good man and Prissy would have a beautiful home ; and those two little boys of Althea 's needed a mother if ever boys did . Besides , I knew quite well that Prissy , in her secret soul , was hankering to be married . So was Emmeline , too -- but nobody wanted to help HER to a husband . The upshot of my meditations was that I asked Stephen down to dinner with us from church one day . I had heard a rumour that he was going to see Lizzie Pye over at Avonlea , and I knew it was time to be stirring , if anything were to be done . If it had been Jane Miranda I do n't know that I 'd have bothered ; but Lizzie Pye would n't have done for a stepmother for Althea 's boys at all . She was too bad-tempered , and as mean as second skimmings besides . Stephen came . He seemed dull and moody , and not much inclined to talk . After dinner I gave Thomas a hint . I said , `` You go to bed and have your nap . I want to talk to Stephen . '' Thomas shrugged his shoulders and went . He probably thought I was brewing up lots of trouble for myself , but he did n't say anything .
As soon as he was out of the way I casually remarked to XXXXX that I understood that he was going to take one of my neighbours away and that I could n't be sorry , though she was an excellent neighbour and I would miss her a great deal .
Althea Avonlea Christian Clark Emmeline Leonard Stephen Thomas rumour skimmings