I was thankful when Mr. Irving came a few minutes ago and took her off for a walk in the woods . Courting 's all right in its place , Miss Shirley , ma'am , but if you try to mix it up with cooking and scouring everything 's spoiled . That 's MY opinion , Miss Shirley , ma'am . '' Anne and Diana worked so heartily that by ten o'clock even Charlotta the Fourth was satisfied . She braided her hair in innumerable plaits and took her weary little bones off to bed . `` But I 'm sure I sha n't sleep a blessed wink , Miss Shirley , ma'am , for fear that something 'll go wrong at the last minute ... the cream wo n't whip ... or Mr. Irving 'll have a stroke and not be able to come . '' `` He is n't in the habit of having strokes , is he ? '' asked Diana , the dimpled corners of her mouth twitching . To Diana , Charlotta the Fourth was , if not exactly a thing of beauty , certainly a joy forever . `` They 're not things that go by habit , '' said Charlotta the Fourth with dignity . `` They just HAPPEN ... and there you are . ANYBODY can have a stroke . You do n't have to learn how . Mr. Irving looks a lot like an uncle of mine that had one once just as he was sitting down to dinner one day . But maybe everything 'll go all right . In this world you 've just got to hope for the best and prepare for the worst and take whatever God sends . '' `` The only thing I 'm worried about is that it wo n't be fine tomorrow , '' said Diana . `` Uncle Abe predicted rain for the middle of the week , and ever since the big storm I ca n't help believing there 's a good deal in what Uncle Abe says . '' Anne , who knew better than Diana just how much Uncle Abe had to do with the storm , was not much disturbed by this . She slept the sleep of the just and weary , and was roused at an unearthly hour by Charlotta the Fourth .
`` Oh , Miss Shirley , ma'am , it 's awful to call you so early , '' came wailing through the keyhole , `` but there 's so much to do yet ... and oh , Miss Shirley , ma'am , I 'm skeered it 's going XXXXX rain and I wish you 'd get up and tell me you think it ai n't . ''
In about as at like of than that to with