It was beyond Marilla 's power to make him sit still and she had been in an agony the whole way lest he fall over the back of the wagon and break his neck , or tumble over the dashboard under the pony 's heels . In despair she finally threatened to whip him soundly when she got him home . Whereupon Davy climbed into her lap , regardless of the reins , flung his chubby arms about her neck and gave her a bear-like hug . `` I do n't believe you mean it , '' he said , smacking her wrinkled cheek affectionately . `` You do n't LOOK like a lady who 'd whip a little boy just 'cause he could n't keep still . Did n't you find it awful hard to keep still when you was only 's old as me ? '' `` No , I always kept still when I was told , '' said Marilla , trying to speak sternly , albeit she felt her heart waxing soft within her under Davy 's impulsive caresses . `` Well , I s ` pose that was 'cause you was a girl , '' said Davy , squirming back to his place after another hug . `` You WAS a girl once , I s ` pose , though it 's awful funny to think of it . Dora can sit still ... but there ai n't much fun in it I do n't think . Seems to me it must be slow to be a girl . Here , Dora , let me liven you up a bit . '' Davy 's method of `` livening up '' was to grasp Dora 's curls in his fingers and give them a tug . Dora shrieked and then cried . `` How can you be such a naughty boy and your poor mother just laid in her grave this very day ? '' demanded Marilla despairingly . `` But she was glad to die , '' said Davy confidentially . `` I know , 'cause she told me so . She was awful tired of being sick . We 'd a long talk the night before she died .
She told me you was going to take me and Dora for the winter and I was XXXXX be a good boy .
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