Rilla smiled and pressed her cheek to Jims ' curls . She knew sweet-tempered , sunny , little Jims was not spoiled . Nevertheless her heart was anxious behind her smile . She , too , thought much about the new Mrs. Anderson and wondered uneasily what she would be like . `` I ca n't give Jims up to a woman who wo n't love him , '' she thought rebelliously . `` I b ` lieve it 's going to rain , '' said Cousin Sophia . `` We have had an awful lot of rain this fall already . It 's going to make it awful hard for people to get their roots in . It was n't so in my young days . We gin ` rally had beautiful Octobers then . But the seasons is altogether different now from what they used to be . '' Clear across Cousin Sophia 's doleful voice cut the telephone bell . Gertrude Oliver answered it . `` Yes -- what ? What ? Is it true -- is it official ? Thank you -- thank you . '' Gertrude turned and faced the room dramatically , her dark eyes flashing , her dark face flushed with feeling . All at once the sun broke through the thick clouds and poured through the big crimson maple outside the window . Its reflected glow enveloped her in a weird immaterial flame .
She looked XXXXX a priestess performing some mystic , splendid rite .
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