Neither Anne nor Diana had ever been there before , and they had only a very slight acquaintance with Mrs. Theodore , who was not given to hospitality . Should they go to the back or front door ? While they held a whispered consultation Mrs. Theodore appeared at the front door with an armful of newspapers . Deliberately she laid them down one by one on the porch floor and the porch steps , and then down the path to the very feet of her mystified callers . `` Will you please wipe your feet carefully on the grass and then walk on these papers ? '' she said anxiously . `` I 've just swept the house all over and I ca n't have any more dust tracked in . The path 's been real muddy since the rain yesterday . '' `` Do n't you dare laugh , '' warned Anne in a whisper , as they marched along the newspapers . `` And I implore you , Diana , not to look at me , no matter what she says , or I shall not be able to keep a sober face . '' The papers extended across the hall and into a prim , fleckless parlor . Anne and Diana sat down gingerly on the nearest chairs and explained their errand . Mrs. White heard them politely , interrupting only twice , once to chase out an adventurous fly , and once to pick up a tiny wisp of grass that had fallen on the carpet from Anne 's dress . Anne felt wretchedly guilty ; but Mrs. White subscribed two dollars and paid the money down ... `` to prevent us from having to go back for it , '' Diana said when they got away . Mrs. White had the newspapers gathered up before they had their horse untied and as they drove out of the yard they saw her busily wielding a broom in the hall . `` I 've always heard that Mrs. Theodore White was the neatest woman alive and I 'll believe it after this , '' said Diana , giving way to her suppressed laughter as soon as it was safe . `` I am glad she has no children , '' said Anne solemnly . `` It would be dreadful beyond words for them if she had . '' At the Spencers ' Mrs. Isabella Spencer made them miserable by saying something ill-natured about everyone in Avonlea . Mr. Thomas Boulter refused to give anything because the hall , when it had been built , twenty years before , had n't been built on the site he recommended .
Mrs. Esther Bell , who was the picture of health , took half an hour to detail all her aches and pains , and sadly put down fifty cents because she would n't be there that time next year to do it ... no , she would be XXXXX her grave .
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