"For Anne to take things calmly would have been to change her nature. All "spirit and fire and dew," as she was, the pleasures and pains of life came to her with trebled intensity. Marilla felt this and was vaguely troubled over it, realizing that the ups and downs of existence would probably bear hardly on this impulsive soul and not sufficiently understanding that the equally great capacity for delight might more than compensate. Therefore Marilla conceived it to be her duty to drill Anne into a tranquil uniformity of disposition as impossible and alien to her as to a dancing sunbeam in one of the brook shallows. She did not make much headway, as she sorrowfully admitted to herself. The downfall of some dear hope or plan plunged Anne into the 'depths of affliction'. The fulfilment thereof exalted her to dizzy realms of delight. Marilla had almost begun to despair of demure manners and prim deportment. Neither would she have believed that she really liked Anne much better as she was."
- This excerpt from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery sees Anne anticipating going to tea at Mrs Allan's home after receiving an invitation in the post ("such a thrill!"). What a beautiful message for girls; that while self-control, conformity, manners and rules have their place, that a girl might be embraced for her unique quirks and disposition, too.
Girl With a Satchel
1 comments:
Love it! Hope your reading Emily of New Moon too!! xox
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