She slept the sleep of the just and weary , and was roused at an unearthly hour by Charlotta the Fourth . `` Oh , Miss Shirley , ma'am , it 's awful to call you so early , '' came wailing through the keyhole , `` but there 's so much to do yet ... and oh , Miss Shirley , ma'am , I 'm skeered it 's going to rain and I wish you 'd get up and tell me you think it ai n't . '' Anne flew to the window , hoping against hope that Charlotta the Fourth was saying this merely by way of rousing her effectually . But alas , the morning did look unpropitious . Below the window Miss Lavendar 's garden , which should have been a glory of pale virgin sunshine , lay dim and windless ; and the sky over the firs was dark with moody clouds . `` Is n't it too mean ! '' said Diana . `` We must hope for the best , '' said Anne determinedly . `` If it only does n't actually rain , a cool , pearly gray day like this would really be nicer than hot sunshine . '' `` But it will rain , '' mourned Charlotta , creeping into the room , a figure of fun , with her many braids wound about her head , the ends , tied up with white thread , sticking out in all directions . `` It 'll hold off till the last minute and then pour cats and dogs . And all the folks will get sopping ... and track mud all over the house ... and they wo n't be able to be married under the honeysuckle ... and it 's awful unlucky for no sun to shine on a bride , say what you will , Miss Shirley , ma'am . I knew things were going too well to last . '' Charlotta the Fourth seemed certainly to have borrowed a leaf out of Miss Eliza Andrews ' book . It did not rain , though it kept on looking as if it meant to . By noon the rooms were decorated , the table beautifully laid ; and upstairs was waiting a bride , `` adorned for her husband . '' `` You do look sweet , '' said Anne rapturously . `` Lovely , '' echoed Diana . `` Everything 's ready , Miss Shirley , ma'am , and nothing dreadful has happened YET , '' was Charlotta 's cheerful statement as she betook herself to her little back room to dress . Out came all the braids ; the resultant rampant crinkliness was plaited into two tails and tied , not with two bows alone , but with four , of brand-new ribbon , brightly blue .
The two upper bows rather gave the impression XXXXX overgrown wings sprouting from Charlotta 's neck , somewhat after the fashion of Raphael 's cherubs .
By about at in of over than till to with