She is seventy-five years old , half blind , and very deaf and very cranky . '' `` And a very poor cook , Mrs. Dr. dear . '' `` The worst possible manager for a manse , '' said Miss Cornelia bitterly . `` Mr. Meredith wo n't get any other housekeeper because he says it would hurt Aunt Martha 's feelings . Anne dearie , believe me , the state of that manse is something terrible . Everything is thick with dust and nothing is ever in its place . And we had painted and papered it all so nice before they came . '' `` There are four children , you say ? '' asked Anne , beginning to mother them already in her heart . `` Yes . They run up just like the steps of a stair . Gerald 's the oldest . He 's twelve and they call him Jerry . He 's a clever boy . Faith is eleven . She is a regular tomboy but pretty as a picture , I must say . '' `` She looks like an angel but she is a holy terror for mischief , Mrs. Dr. dear , '' said Susan solemnly . `` I was at the manse one night last week and Mrs. James Millison was there , too . She had brought them up a dozen eggs and a little pail of milk -- a VERY little pail , Mrs. Dr. dear . Faith took them and whisked down the cellar with them .
Near the bottom of the stairs she caught her toe and fell the rest XXXXX the way , milk and eggs and all .
as at because before for in like of to with