`` I suppose he was responsible for the dead rat that was lying on a chair in the parlour the afternoon Mrs. Grant called . It gave her a turn , '' said Susan , `` and I do not wonder , for manse parlours are no places for dead rats . To be sure it may have been the cat who left it , there . HE is as full of the old Nick as he can be stuffed , Mrs. Dr. dear . A manse cat should at least LOOK respectable , in my opinion , whatever he really is . But I never saw such a rakish-looking beast . And he walks along the ridgepole of the manse almost every evening at sunset , Mrs. Dr. dear , and waves his tail , and that is not becoming . '' `` The worst of it is , they are NEVER decently dressed , '' sighed Miss Cornelia . `` And since the snow went they go to school barefooted . Now , you know Anne dearie , that is n't the right thing for manse children -- especially when the Methodist minister 's little girl always wears such nice buttoned boots . And I DO wish they would n't play in the old Methodist graveyard . '' `` It 's very tempting , when it 's right beside the manse , '' said Anne . `` I 've always thought graveyards must be delightful places to play in . '' `` Oh , no , you did not , Mrs. Dr. dear , '' said loyal Susan , determined to protect Anne from herself . `` You have too much good sense and decorum . '' `` Why did they ever build that manse beside the graveyard in the first place ? '' asked Anne . `` Their lawn is so small there is no place for them to play except in the graveyard . '' `` It WAS a mistake , '' admitted Miss Cornelia . `` But they got the lot cheap .
And no other manse children ever thought XXXXX playing there .
To along as at beside for in of on since