CHAPTER II. SHEER GOSSIP

"Where are the other children?" asked Miss Cornelia, when the first greetings--cordial on her side, rapturous on Anne's, and dignified on Susan's--were over.

"Shirley is in bed and Jem and Walter and the twins are down in their beloved Rainbow Valley," said Anne. "They just came home this afternoon, you know, and they could hardly wait until supper was over before rushing down to the valley. They love it above every spot on earth. Even the maple grove doesn't rival it in their affections."

"I am afraid they love it too well," said Susan gloomily. "Little Jem said once he would rather go to Rainbow Valley than to heaven when he died, and that was not a proper remark."

"I suppose they had a great time in Avonlea?" said Miss Cornelia.

"Enormous. Marilla does spoil them terribly. Jem, in particular, can do no wrong in her eyes."

"Miss Cuthbert must be an old lady now," said Miss Cornelia, getting out her knitting, so that she could hold her own with Susan. Miss Cornelia held that the woman whose hands were employed always had the advantage over the woman whose hands were not.

"Marilla is eighty-five," said Anne with a sigh. "Her hair is snow-white. But, strange to say, her eyesight is better than it was when she was sixty."

"Well, dearie, I'm real glad you're all back. I've been dreadful lonesome. But we haven't been dull in the Glen, believe ME. There hasn't been such an exciting spring in my time, as far as church matters go. We've got settled with a minister at last, Anne dearie."

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. Who said Jem made an improper remark?
2. Where did Jem say he'd rather go than Heaven?
3. Who spoils the kids?
4. Who is perfect in her eyes?
5. Who's greeting came across as rapturous?
6. Whose was dignified?
7. Where was Shirley?
8. Where were Walter and the twins?
9. When had they gotten home that day?
10. When did they leave for the valley?
11. What place doesn't hold a candle to the valley to them?
12. Where did Miss Cornelia ask if they'd had a good time at?
13. What did Miss Cornelia get out?
14. Who must be old now?
15. How old is she?
16. What color is her hair?
17. How is her vision?

Numbered answers:
1. Susan
2. to Rainbow Valley
3. Marilla
4. Jem
5. Anne's
6. Susan's
7. in bed
8. Rainbow Valley
9. this afternoon
10. when supper was over
11. the maple grove
12. Avonlea
13. her knitting
14. Marilla
15. eighty-five
16. white
17. better than when she was sixty