The Blythes left Ingleside to the melancholy music of howls from Dog Monday , who was locked up in the barn lest he make an uninvited guest at the light . They picked up the Merediths in the village , and others joined them as they walked down the old harbour road . Mary Vance , resplendent in blue crepe , with lace overdress , came out of Miss Cornelia 's gate and attached herself to Rilla and Miss Oliver who were walking together and who did not welcome her over-warmly . Rilla was not very fond of Mary Vance . She had never forgotten the humiliating day when Mary had chased her through the village with a dried codfish . Mary Vance , to tell the truth , was not exactly popular with any of her set . Still , they enjoyed her society -- she had such a biting tongue that it was stimulating . `` Mary Vance is a habit of ours -- we ca n't do without her even when we are furious with her , '' Di Blythe had once said . Most of the little crowd were paired off after a fashion . Jem walked with Faith Meredith , of course , and Jerry Meredith with Nan Blythe . Di and Walter were together , deep in confidential conversation which Rilla envied . Carl Meredith was walking with Miranda Pryor , more to torment Joe Milgrave than for any other reason . Joe was known to have a strong hankering for the said Miranda , which shyness prevented him from indulging on all occasions . Joe might summon enough courage to amble up beside Miranda if the night were dark , but here , in this moonlit dusk , he simply could not do it . So he trailed along after the procession and thought things not lawful to be uttered of Carl Meredith . Miranda was the daughter of Whiskers-on-the-moon ; she did not share her father 's unpopularity but she was not much run after , being a pale , neutral little creature , somewhat addicted to nervous giggling . She had silvery blonde hair and her eyes were big china blue orbs that looked as if she had been badly frightened when she was little and had never got over it . She would much rather have walked with Joe than with Carl , with whom she did not feel in the least at home . Yet it was something of an honour , too , to have a college boy beside her , and a son of the manse at that . Shirley Blythe was with Una Meredith and both were rather silent because such was their nature .
Shirley was a lad XXXXX sixteen , sedate , sensible , thoughtful , full of a quiet humour .
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