Max brought her out in a covered basket , lined with padded crimson satin . Max likes cats and Aunt Cynthia . He explained how we were to treat Fatima and when Ismay had gone out of the room -- Ismay always went out of the room when she knew I particularly wanted her to remain -- he proposed to me again . Of course I said no , as usual , but I was rather pleased . Max had been proposing to me about every two months for two years . Sometimes , as in this case , he went three months , and then I always wondered why . I concluded that he could not be really interested in Anne Shirley , and I was relieved . I did n't want to marry Max but it was pleasant and convenient to have him around , and we would miss him dreadfully if any other girl snapped him up . He was so useful and always willing to do anything for us -- nail a shingle on the roof , drive us to town , put down carpets -- in short , a very present help in all our troubles . So I just beamed on him when I said no . Max began counting on his fingers . When he got as far as eight he shook his head and began over again . `` What is it ? '' I asked . `` I 'm trying to count up how many times I have proposed to you , '' he said . `` But I ca n't remember whether I asked you to marry me that day we dug up the garden or not . If I did it makes -- '' `` No , you did n't , '' I interrupted . `` Well , that makes it eleven , '' said Max reflectively . `` Pretty near the limit , is n't it ? My manly pride will not allow me to propose to the same girl more than twelve times .
XXXXX the next time will be the last , Sue darling . ''
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