Mrs. Howard , a plump , voluble dame , met Rilla gushingly and left her in the parlour while she went to call Irene . Rilla threw off her rain-coat and looked at herself critically in the mirror over the mantel . Hair , hat , and dress were satisfactory -- nothing there for Miss Irene to make fun of . Rilla remembered how clever and amusing she used to think Irene 's biting little comments about other girls . Well , it had come home to her now . Presently , Irene skimmed down , elegantly gowned , with her pale , straw-coloured hair done in the latest and most extreme fashion , and an over-luscious atmosphere of perfume enveloping her . `` Why how do you do , Miss Blythe ? '' she said sweetly . `` This is a very unexpected pleasure . '' Rilla had risen to take Irene 's chilly finger-tips and now , as she sat down again , she saw something that temporarily stunned her . Irene saw it too , as she sat down , and a little amused , impertinent smile appeared on her lips and hovered there during the rest of the interview . On one of Rilla 's feet was a smart little steel-buckled shoe and a filmy blue silk stocking . The other was clad in a stout and rather shabby boot and black lisle ! Poor Rilla ! She had changed , or begun to change her boots and stockings after she had put on her dress . This was the result of doing one thing with your hands and another with your brain . Oh , what a ridiculous position to be in -- and before Irene Howard of all people -- Irene , who was staring at Rilla 's feet as if she had never seen feet before ! And once she had thought Irene 's manner perfection ! Everything that Rilla had prepared to say vanished from her memory . Vainly trying to tuck her unlucky foot under her chair , she blurted out a blunt statement .
`` I have come XXXXX athk a favour of you , Irene . ''
On about as at during of to under while with