You 're taller than I am , I declare . And you 're ever so much better looking than you used to be , too . But I dare say you know that without being told . '' `` Indeed I did n't , '' said Anne radiantly . `` I know I 'm not so freckled as I used to be , so I 've much to be thankful for , but I really had n't dared to hope there was any other improvement . I 'm so glad you think there is , Miss Barry . '' Miss Barry 's house was furnished with `` great magnificence , '' as Anne told Marilla afterward . The two little country girls were rather abashed by the splendor of the parlor where Miss Barry left them when she went to see about dinner . `` Is n't it just like a palace ? '' whispered Diana . `` I never was in Aunt Josephine 's house before , and I 'd no idea it was so grand . I just wish Julia Bell could see this -- she puts on such airs about her mother 's parlor . '' `` Velvet carpet , '' sighed Anne luxuriously , `` and silk curtains ! I 've dreamed of such things , Diana . But do you know I do n't believe I feel very comfortable with them after all . There are so many things in this room and all so splendid that there is no scope for imagination . That is one consolation when you are poor -- there are so many more things you can imagine about . '' Their sojourn in town was something that Anne and Diana dated from for years . From first to last it was crowded with delights . On Wednesday Miss Barry took them to the Exhibition grounds and kept them there all day .
`` It was splendid , '' Anne related XXXXX Marilla later on .
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