You 'd best go up this evening and tell her how it was . '' `` My courage fails me at the thought of facing Diana 's injured mother , '' sighed Anne . `` I wish you 'd go , Marilla . You 're so much more dignified than I am . Likely she 'd listen to you quicker than to me . '' `` Well , I will , '' said Marilla , reflecting that it would probably be the wiser course . `` Do n't cry any more , Anne . It will be all right . '' Marilla had changed her mind about it being all right by the time she got back from Orchard Slope . Anne was watching for her coming and flew to the porch door to meet her . `` Oh , Marilla , I know by your face that it 's been no use , '' she said sorrowfully . `` Mrs. Barry wo n't forgive me ? '' `` Mrs. Barry indeed ! '' snapped Marilla . `` Of all the unreasonable women I ever saw she 's the worst . I told her it was all a mistake and you were n't to blame , but she just simply did n't believe me . And she rubbed it well in about my currant wine and how I 'd always said it could n't have the least effect on anybody . I just told her plainly that currant wine was n't meant to be drunk three tumblerfuls at a time and that if a child I had to do with was so greedy I 'd sober her up with a right good spanking . '' Marilla whisked into the kitchen , grievously disturbed , leaving a very much distracted little soul in the porch behind her . Presently Anne stepped out bareheaded into the chill autumn dusk ; very determinedly and steadily she took her way down through the sere clover field over the log bridge and up through the spruce grove , lighted by a pale little moon hanging low over the western woods .
Mrs. Barry , coming XXXXX the door in answer to a timid knock , found a white-lipped eager-eyed suppliant on the doorstep .
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