`` He certainly is n't the wild , dashing , wicked , young man Diana once wanted to marry , '' smiled Anne . `` Fred is extremely good . '' `` That 's just what he ought to be . Would you want Diana to marry a wicked man ? Or marry one yourself ? '' `` Oh , no . I would n't want to marry anybody who was wicked , but I think I 'd like it if he COULD be wicked and WOULD N'T . Now , Fred is HOPELESSLY good . '' `` You 'll have more sense some day , I hope , '' said Marilla . Marilla spoke rather bitterly . She was grievously disappointed . She knew Anne had refused Gilbert Blythe . Avonlea gossip buzzed over the fact , which had leaked out , nobody knew how . Perhaps Charlie Sloane had guessed and told his guesses for truth . Perhaps Diana had betrayed it to Fred and Fred had been indiscreet . At all events it was known ; Mrs. Blythe no longer asked Anne , in public or private , if she had heard lately from Gilbert , but passed her by with a frosty bow . Anne , who had always liked Gilbert 's merry , young-hearted mother , was grieved in secret over this . Marilla said nothing ; but Mrs. Lynde gave Anne many exasperated digs about it , until fresh gossip reached that worthy lady , through the medium of Moody Spurgeon MacPherson 's mother , that Anne had another `` beau '' at college , who was rich and handsome and good all in one . After that Mrs. Rachel held her tongue , though she still wished in her inmost heart that Anne had accepted Gilbert . Riches were all very well ; but even Mrs. Rachel , practical soul though she was , did not consider them the one essential .
If Anne `` liked '' the Handsome Unknown better than Gilbert there was nothing more to be said ; but Mrs. Rachel was dreadfully afraid that Anne was going XXXXX make the mistake of marrying for money .
After at for if in of over that to until