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___ "Whatever is the matter with you, child?" Marilla asked Anne as she and Marigold walked beside her to the Barry household, "You haven't said a word since we left. You're not yourself."
"Perfect," Anne quietly replied.
"Good afternoon, Miss Cuthbert, Marigold," Eliza Barry greeted, standing next to her two daughters.
"Afternoon, Mrs. Barry."
"Please, call me Eliza. And... this must be Anne."
"Good afternoon," Diana said.
"Good afternoon," Minnie May repeated.
"Afternoon," Anne said with the same meek tone.
"Thank you for having us, Mrs. Barry," Marigold said in order to keep up with her proper well mannered persona.
"Marilla, Marigold, Anne, please come in."
The children found themselves walking in the garden. Anne still being quiet as Marigold and Diana conversed in conversation.
"I don't believe you said two words during tea," Diana told Anne, "You didn't even remark on the cake. Mother let me help her bake it special. You enjoyed it... didn't you?"
"The cake was scrumptious."
"Scrumptious. Have you always been shy, or does it come from being an orphan?"
"I'm less shy than reticent."
"Goodness, there's another 25-cent word."
"It's just..."
"Yes?"
"I like to read. When I can."
"I like reading, too, but Mother prefers that I do needlepoint."
"I only like needlepoint because it's the only time I get to stab something and not get in trouble for it," Marigold said, receiving a horrified look from her friends," I mean, it's relaxing."
"Does needlepoint provide much scope for the imagination?" Anne asked, ignoring her sister.
"I don't think imagination is my strong suit."
"Really? I don't know what I'd do without mine. Life would be an agony. An utter... agony."
