“I hardly know”—hesitatingly.
“Oh my! I’d know quick enough,” laughed the boy. “Isabel wouldn’t it be fine enough to have ten or twelve thousand left to us? I’d be sure of going to college.”
“The University ought to be good enough for city boys,” said Uncle Warren.
They played authors for a while “because they could talk” Willis said. Then Aunt Warren played for them to dance. At first Marilla hesitated.
“Oh, it’s only three-step” exclaimed Edith. “I’ll show you, and if you danced at the King’s ball––”
She found she could dance easy enough. It was quite delightful. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks like roses.
Then they tried several other pretty dances, and spiced them with much laughter. Oh, how gay they were.
“Who was it said something about the King’s ball?” asked Willis. “Was it a make believe?”
“Oh it is the prettiest thing!” replied Edith. 287
“You see, Cousin Marilla sat alone in the kitchen one night when the maid had gone out and a fairy godmother came and asked her if she didn’t want to go to the ball. Finding her in the kitchen you see she took her for Cinderella, and she touched her with her wand—now Marilla, go on, I couldn’t tell it half as delightfully as you do; you make it so real.”