Stephen Irving came forward to meet Anne with a smile . He was a tall , handsome man of middle age , with iron-gray hair , deep-set , dark blue eyes , and a strong , sad face , splendidly modeled about chin and brow . Just the face for a hero of romance , Anne thought with a thrill of intense satisfaction . It was so disappointing to meet someone who ought to be a hero and find him bald or stooped , or otherwise lacking in manly beauty . Anne would have thought it dreadful if the object of Miss Lavendar 's romance had not looked the part . `` So this is my little son 's ` beautiful teacher , ' of whom I have heard so much , '' said Mr. Irving with a hearty handshake . `` Paul 's letters have been so full of you , Miss Shirley , that I feel as if I were pretty well acquainted with you already . I want to thank you for what you have done for Paul . I think that your influence has been just what he needed . Mother is one of the best and dearest of women ; but her robust , matter-of-fact Scotch common sense could not always understand a temperament like my laddie 's . What was lacking in her you have supplied . Between you , I think Paul 's training in these two past years has been as nearly ideal as a motherless boy 's could be . '' Everybody likes to be appreciated . Under Mr. Irving 's praise Anne 's face `` burst flower like into rosy bloom , '' and the busy , weary man of the world , looking at her , thought he had never seen a fairer , sweeter slip of girlhood than this little `` down east '' schoolteacher with her red hair and wonderful eyes . Paul sat between them blissfully happy . `` I never dreamed father was coming , '' he said radiantly . `` Even Grandma did n't know it . It was a great surprise . As a general thing ... '' Paul shook his brown curls gravely ... `` I do n't like to be surprised . You lose all the fun of expecting things when you 're surprised .
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