`` I know I have red hair too ... although it 's MUCH darker than it used to be ... so there 's no need of telling me that either . '' `` Well , well , I 'll try and not mention it again since you 're so sensitive . You must excuse me , Anne . I 've got a habit of being outspoken and folks must n't mind it . '' `` But they ca n't help minding it . And I do n't think it 's any help that it 's your habit . What would you think of a person who went about sticking pins and needles into people and saying , ` Excuse me , you must n't mind it ... it 's just a habit I 've got . ' You 'd think he was crazy , would n't you ? And as for Mrs. Lynde being a busybody , perhaps she is . But did you tell her she had a very kind heart and always helped the poor , and never said a word when Timothy Cotton stole a crock of butter out of her dairy and told his wife he 'd bought it from her ? Mrs. Cotton cast it up to her the next time they met that it tasted of turnips and Mrs. Lynde just said she was sorry it had turned out so poorly . '' `` I suppose she has some good qualities , '' conceded Mr. Harrison grudgingly . `` Most folks have . I have some myself , though you might never suspect it . But anyhow I ai n't going to give anything to that carpet . Folks are everlasting begging for money here , it seems to me . How 's your project of painting the hall coming on ? '' `` Splendidly . We had a meeting of the A.V.I.S. last Friday night and found that we had plenty of money subscribed to paint the hall and shingle the roof too . MOST people gave very liberally , Mr. Harrison . ''
Anne was a sweet-souled lass , but she could instill some venom XXXXX innocent italics when occasion required .
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