As it progressed Anne became more and more abstracted , eating mechanically , with her big eyes fixed unswervingly and unseeingly on the sky outside the window . This made Marilla more nervous than ever ; she had an uncomfortable feeling that while this odd child 's body might be there at the table her spirit was far away in some remote airy cloudland , borne aloft on the wings of imagination . Who would want such a child about the place ? Yet Matthew wished to keep her , of all unaccountable things ! Marilla felt that he wanted it just as much this morning as he had the night before , and that he would go on wanting it . That was Matthew 's way -- take a whim into his head and cling to it with the most amazing silent persistency -- a persistency ten times more potent and effectual in its very silence than if he had talked it out . When the meal was ended Anne came out of her reverie and offered to wash the dishes . `` Can you wash dishes right ? '' asked Marilla distrustfully . `` Pretty well . I 'm better at looking after children , though . I 've had so much experience at that . It 's such a pity you have n't any here for me to look after . '' `` I do n't feel as if I wanted any more children to look after than I 've got at present . YOU 'RE problem enough in all conscience . What 's to be done with you I do n't know . Matthew is a most ridiculous man . '' `` I think he 's lovely , '' said Anne reproachfully . `` He is so very sympathetic . He did n't mind how much I talked -- he seemed to like it .
I felt that he was a kindred spirit XXXXX soon as ever I saw him . ''
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