The way to it was by an enchanted path where not even her dearest might follow her . A thunder-shower came up while the girls were at Carmody ; it did not last long , however , and the drive home , through lanes where the raindrops sparkled on the boughs and little leafy valleys where the drenched ferns gave out spicy odors , was delightful . But just as they turned into the Cuthbert lane Anne saw something that spoiled the beauty of the landscape for her . Before them on the right extended Mr. Harrison 's broad , gray-green field of late oats , wet and luxuriant ; and there , standing squarely in the middle of it , up to her sleek sides in the lush growth , and blinking at them calmly over the intervening tassels , was a Jersey cow ! Anne dropped the reins and stood up with a tightening of the lips that boded no good to the predatory quadruped . Not a word said she , but she climbed nimbly down over the wheels , and whisked across the fence before Diana understood what had happened . `` Anne , come back , '' shrieked the latter , as soon as she found her voice . `` You 'll ruin your dress in that wet grain ... ruin it . She does n't hear me ! Well , she 'll never get that cow out by herself . I must go and help her , of course . '' Anne was charging through the grain like a mad thing . Diana hopped briskly down , tied the horse securely to a post , turned the skirt of her pretty gingham dress over her shoulders , mounted the fence , and started in pursuit of her frantic friend . She could run faster than Anne , who was hampered by her clinging and drenched skirt , and soon overtook her . Behind them they left a trail that would break Mr. Harrison 's heart when he should see it . `` Anne , for mercy 's sake , stop , '' panted poor Diana . `` I 'm right out of breath and you are wet to the skin . '' `` I must ... get ... that cow ... out ... before ... Mr. Harrison ... sees her , '' gasped Anne . `` I do n't ... care ... if I 'm ... drowned ... if we ... can ... only ... do that . '' But the Jersey cow appeared to see no good reason for being hustled out of her luscious browsing ground .
No sooner had the two breathless girls got near her XXXXX she turned and bolted squarely for the opposite corner of the field .
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