Everything I do gets me or my dearest friends into a scrape . We 've gone and lost your father 's flat , Diana , and I have a presentiment that we 'll not be allowed to row on the pond any more . '' Anne 's presentiment proved more trustworthy than presentiments are apt to do . Great was the consternation in the Barry and Cuthbert households when the events of the afternoon became known . `` Will you ever have any sense , Anne ? '' groaned Marilla . `` Oh , yes , I think I will , Marilla , '' returned Anne optimistically . A good cry , indulged in the grateful solitude of the east gable , had soothed her nerves and restored her to her wonted cheerfulness . `` I think my prospects of becoming sensible are brighter now than ever . '' `` I do n't see how , '' said Marilla . `` Well , '' explained Anne , `` I 've learned a new and valuable lesson today . Ever since I came to Green Gables I 've been making mistakes , and each mistake has helped to cure me of some great shortcoming . The affair of the amethyst brooch cured me of meddling with things that did n't belong to me . The Haunted Wood mistake cured me of letting my imagination run away with me . The liniment cake mistake cured me of carelessness in cooking . Dyeing my hair cured me of vanity . I never think about my hair and nose now -- at least , very seldom . And today 's mistake is going to cure me of being too romantic . I have come to the conclusion that it is no use trying to be romantic in Avonlea . It was probably easy enough in towered Camelot hundreds of years ago , but romance is not appreciated now .
I feel quite sure that you will soon see a great improvement in me in this respect , XXXXX . ''
Avonlea Barry Cuthbert Diana Gables Marilla afternoon presentiment presentiments shortcoming