And Mrs. Superintendent Bell and Mrs. Rachel Lynde are going to make ice cream -- think of it , Marilla -- ICE CREAM ! And , oh , Marilla , can I go to it ? '' `` Just look at the clock , if you please , Anne . What time did I tell you to come in ? '' `` Two o'clock -- but is n't it splendid about the picnic , Marilla ? Please can I go ? Oh , I 've never been to a picnic -- I 've dreamed of picnics , but I 've never -- '' `` Yes , I told you to come at two o'clock . And it 's a quarter to three . I 'd like to know why you did n't obey me , Anne . '' `` Why , I meant to , Marilla , as much as could be . But you have no idea how fascinating Idlewild is . And then , of course , I had to tell Matthew about the picnic . Matthew is such a sympathetic listener . Please can I go ? '' `` You 'll have to learn to resist the fascination of Idle-whatever-you-call-it . When I tell you to come in at a certain time I mean that time and not half an hour later . And you need n't stop to discourse with sympathetic listeners on your way , either . As for the picnic , of course you can go . You 're a Sunday-school scholar , and it 's not likely I 'd refuse to let you go when all the other little girls are going . '' `` But -- but , '' faltered Anne , `` Diana says that everybody must take a basket of things to eat .
I ca n't cook , as you know , Marilla , and -- and -- I do n't mind going XXXXX a picnic without puffed sleeves so much , but I 'd feel terribly humiliated if I had to go without a basket .
Marilla Matthew about as at if of that three to