She whisked out of the kitchen in high dudgeon . Another time she would n't go down to show herself off to Susan -- Susan , who thought nobody was grown up until she was sixty ! And that horrid Cousin Sophia with her digs about freckles and legs ! What business had an old -- an old beanpole like that to talk of anybody else being long and thin ? Rilla felt all her pleasure in herself and her evening clouded and spoiled . The very teeth of her soul were set on edge and she could have sat down and cried . But later on her spirits rose again when she found herself one of the gay crowd bound for the Four Winds light . 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 XXXXX amble up beside Miranda if the night were dark , but here , in this moonlit dusk , he simply could not do it .
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