I can read pretty well and I know ever so many pieces of poetry off by heart -- ` The Battle of Hohenlinden ' and ` Edinburgh after Flodden , ' and ` Bingen of the Rhine , ' and most of the ` Lady of the Lake ' and most of ` The Seasons ' by James Thompson . Do n't you just love poetry that gives you a crinkly feeling up and down your back ? There is a piece in the Fifth Reader -- ` The Downfall of Poland ' -- that is just full of thrills . Of course , I was n't in the Fifth Reader -- I was only in the Fourth -- but the big girls used to lend me theirs to read . '' `` Were those women -- Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Hammond -- good to you ? '' asked Marilla , looking at Anne out of the corner of her eye . `` O-o-o-h , '' faltered Anne . Her sensitive little face suddenly flushed scarlet and embarrassment sat on her brow . `` Oh , they MEANT to be -- I know they meant to be just as good and kind as possible . And when people mean to be good to you , you do n't mind very much when they 're not quite -- always . They had a good deal to worry them , you know . It 's very trying to have a drunken husband , you see ; and it must be very trying to have twins three times in succession , do n't you think ? But I feel sure they meant to be good to me . '' Marilla asked no more questions . Anne gave herself up to a silent rapture over the shore road and Marilla guided the sorrel abstractedly while she pondered deeply . Pity was suddenly stirring in her heart for the child . What a starved , unloved life she had had -- a life of drudgery and poverty and neglect ; for Marilla was shrewd enough to read between the lines of Anne 's history and divine the truth . No wonder she had been so delighted at the prospect of a real home . It was a pity she had to be sent back . What if she , Marilla , should indulge Matthew 's unaccountable whim and let her stay ?
He was set XXXXX it ; and the child seemed a nice , teachable little thing .
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