To Diana , Charlotta the Fourth was , if not exactly a thing of beauty , certainly a joy forever . `` They 're not things that go by habit , '' said Charlotta the Fourth with dignity . `` They just HAPPEN ... and there you are . ANYBODY can have a stroke . You do n't have to learn how . Mr. Irving looks a lot like an uncle of mine that had one once just as he was sitting down to dinner one day . But maybe everything 'll go all right . In this world you 've just got to hope for the best and prepare for the worst and take whatever God sends . '' `` The only thing I 'm worried about is that it wo n't be fine tomorrow , '' said Diana . `` Uncle Abe predicted rain for the middle of the week , and ever since the big storm I ca n't help believing there 's a good deal in what Uncle Abe says . '' Anne , who knew better than Diana just how much Uncle Abe had to do with the storm , was not much disturbed by this . 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 XXXXX fun , with her many braids wound about her head , the ends , tied up with white thread , sticking out in all directions .
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