`` She 's my promised wife , and if I was to die she 'd be my promised widow , would n't she ? And she has n't got a soul to look after her except her old grandmother . '' `` Come and have your supper , Anne , '' said Marilla , `` and do n't encourage that child in his absurd talk . '' Chapter XXIII Paul Can not Find the Rock People Life was very pleasant in Avonlea that summer , although Anne , amid all her vacation joys , was haunted by a sense of `` something gone which should be there . '' She would not admit , even in her inmost reflections , that this was caused by Gilbert 's absence . But when she had to walk home alone from prayer meetings and A.V.I.S. pow-wows , while Diana and Fred , and many other gay couples , loitered along the dusky , starlit country roads , there was a queer , lonely ache in her heart which she could not explain away . Gilbert did not even write to her , as she thought he might have done . She knew he wrote to Diana occasionally , but she would not inquire about him ; and Diana , supposing that Anne heard from him , volunteered no information . Gilbert 's mother , who was a gay , frank , light-hearted lady , but not overburdened with tact , had a very embarrassing habit of asking Anne , always in a painfully distinct voice and always in the presence of a crowd , if she had heard from Gilbert lately . Poor Anne could only blush horribly and murmur , `` not very lately , '' which was taken by all , Mrs. Blythe included , to be merely a maidenly evasion . Apart from this , Anne enjoyed her summer . Priscilla came for a merry visit in June ; and , when she had gone , Mr. and Mrs. Irving , Paul and Charlotta the Fourth came `` home '' for July and August . Echo Lodge was the scene of gaieties once more , and the echoes over the river were kept busy mimicking the laughter that rang in the old garden behind the spruces . `` Miss Lavendar '' had not changed , except to grow even sweeter and prettier . Paul adored her , and the companionship between them was beautiful to see . `` But I do n't call her ` mother ' just by itself , '' he explained to Anne . `` You see , THAT name belongs just to my own little mother , and I ca n't give it to any one else . You know , teacher . But I call her ` Mother Lavendar ' and I love her next best to father . I -- I even love her a LITTLE better than you , teacher . ''
`` Which is just as it ought XXXXX be , '' answered Anne .
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