Such a day came late in August . In the forenoon Anne and Diana rowed the delighted twins down the pond to the sandshore to pick `` sweet grass '' and paddle in the surf , over which the wind was harping an old lyric learned when the world was young . In the afternoon Anne walked down to the old Irving place to see Paul . She found him stretched out on the grassy bank beside the thick fir grove that sheltered the house on the north , absorbed in a book of fairy tales . He sprang up radiantly at sight of her . `` Oh , I 'm so glad you 've come , teacher , '' he said eagerly , `` because Grandma 's away . You 'll stay and have tea with me , wo n't you ? It 's so lonesome to have tea all by oneself . YOU know , teacher . I 've had serious thoughts of asking Young Mary Joe to sit down and eat her tea with me , but I expect Grandma would n't approve . She says the French have to be kept in their place . And anyhow , it 's difficult to talk with Young Mary Joe . She just laughs and says , ` Well , yous do beat all de kids I ever knowed . ' That is n't my idea of conversation . '' `` Of course I 'll stay to tea , '' said Anne gaily . `` I was dying to be asked . My mouth has been watering for some more of your grandma 's delicious shortbread ever since I had tea here before . '' Paul looked very sober . `` If it depended on me , teacher , '' he said , standing before Anne with his hands in his pockets and his beautiful little face shadowed with sudden care , `` You should have shortbread with a right good will . But it depends on Mary Joe .
I heard Grandma tell her XXXXX she left that she was n't to give me any shortcake because it was too rich for little boys ' stomachs .
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