Diana was sitting on the sofa , reading a book which she dropped when the callers entered . She was a very pretty little girl , with her mother 's black eyes and hair , and rosy cheeks , and the merry expression which was her inheritance from her father . `` This is my little girl Diana , '' said Mrs. Barry . `` Diana , you might take Anne out into the garden and show her your flowers . It will be better for you than straining your eyes over that book . She reads entirely too much -- '' this to Marilla as the little girls went out -- `` and I ca n't prevent her , for her father aids and abets her . She 's always poring over a book . I 'm glad she has the prospect of a playmate -- perhaps it will take her more out-of-doors . '' Outside in the garden , which was full of mellow sunset light streaming through the dark old firs to the west of it , stood Anne and Diana , gazing bashfully at each other over a clump of gorgeous tiger lilies . The Barry garden was a bowery wilderness of flowers which would have delighted Anne 's heart at any time less fraught with destiny . It was encircled by huge old willows and tall firs , beneath which flourished flowers that loved the shade . Prim , right-angled paths neatly bordered with clamshells , intersected it like moist red ribbons and in the beds between old-fashioned flowers ran riot . There were rosy bleeding-hearts and great splendid crimson peonies ; white , fragrant narcissi and thorny , sweet Scotch roses ; pink and blue and white columbines and lilac-tinted Bouncing Bets ; clumps of southernwood and ribbon grass and mint ; purple Adam-and-Eve , daffodils , and masses of sweet clover white with its delicate , fragrant , feathery sprays ; scarlet lightning that shot its fiery lances over prim white musk-flowers ; a garden it was where sunshine lingered and bees hummed , and winds , beguiled into loitering , purred and rustled . `` Oh , Diana , '' said Anne at last , clasping her hands and speaking almost in a whisper , `` oh , do you think you can like me a little -- enough to be my bosom friend ? '' Diana laughed . Diana always laughed before she spoke . `` Why , I guess so , '' she said frankly . `` I 'm awfully glad you 've come to live at Green Gables . It will be jolly to have somebody to play with . There is n't any other girl who lives near enough to play with , and I 've no sisters big enough . ''
`` Will you swear XXXXX be my friend forever and ever ? ''
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