The bloom and sunshine of the Four Winds world grated harshly on her ; and yet , when the rain fell heavily , she pictured it beating so mercilessly down on that little grave across the harbor ; and when the wind blew around the eaves she heard sad voices in it she had never heard before . Kindly callers hurt her , too , with the well-meant platitudes with which they strove to cover the nakedness of bereavement . A letter from Phil Blake was an added sting . Phil had heard of the baby 's birth , but not of its death , and she wrote Anne a congratulatory letter of sweet mirth which hurt her horribly . `` I would have laughed over it so happily if I had my baby , '' she sobbed to Marilla . `` But when I have n't it just seems like wanton cruelty -- though I know Phil would n't hurt me for the world . Oh , Marilla , I do n't see how I can EVER be happy again -- EVERYTHING will hurt me all the rest of my life . '' `` Time will help you , '' said Marilla , who was racked with sympathy but could never learn to express it in other than age-worn formulas . `` It does n't seem FAIR , '' said Anne rebelliously . `` Babies are born and live where they are not wanted -- where they will be neglected -- where they will have no chance . I would have loved my baby so -- and cared for it so tenderly -- and tried to give her every chance for good . And yet I was n't allowed to keep her . '' `` It was God 's will , Anne , '' said Marilla , helpless before the riddle of the universe -- the WHY of undeserved pain . `` And little Joy is better off . '' `` I ca n't believe THAT , '' cried Anne bitterly . Then , seeing that Marilla looked shocked , she added passionately , `` Why should she be born at all -- why should any one be born at all -- if she 's better off dead ? I DO N'T believe it is better for a child to die at birth than to live its life out -- and love and be loved -- and enjoy and suffer -- and do its work -- and develop a character that would give it a personality in eternity . And how do you know it was God 's will ? Perhaps it was just a thwarting of His purpose by the Power of Evil . We ca n't be expected to be resigned to THAT . ''
`` Oh , Anne , do n't talk so , '' said Marilla , genuinely alarmed lest XXXXX were drifting into deep and dangerous waters .
Anne Blake God Marilla Phil Winds eaves platitudes riddle voices