Up at Ingleside
Rilla ran laughing to her room.
"Now I'm going to do a most unladylike and inexcusable thing," she said,
as she pulled her green velvet hat out of its box. "I'm going to kick
this hat about the room until it is without form and void; and I shall
never as long as I live wear anything of that shade of green again."
"You've certainly kept your vow pluckily," laughed Miss Oliver.
"It wasn't pluck--it was sheer obstinacy--I'm rather ashamed of it,"
said Rilla, kicking joyously. "I wanted to show mother. It's mean to
want to show your own mother--most unfilial conduct! But I have shown
her. And I've shown myself a few things! Oh, Miss Oliver, just for one
moment I'm really feeling quite young again--young and frivolous and
silly. Did I ever say November was an ugly month? Why it's the most
beautiful month in the whole year. Listen to the bells ringing in
Rainbow Valley! I never heard them so clearly. They're ringing for peace
--and new happiness--and all the dear, sweet, sane, homey things that
we can have again now, Miss Oliver. Not that I am sane just now--I
don't pretend to be. The whole world is having a little crazy spell
today. Soon we'll sober down--and 'keep faith'--and begin to build up
our new world. But just for today let's be mad and glad."
Susan came in from the outdoor sunlight looking supremely satisfied.
"Mr. Hyde is gone," she announced.
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