Irene Howard fastened it up for her and gave her some over-sweet, condescending compliments.

Rilla felt flattered by Irene's condescension.

She was an Upper Glen girl of nineteen who seemed to like the society of the younger girls--spiteful friends said because she could queen it over them without rivalry.

But Rilla thought Irene quite wonderful and loved her for her patronage.

Irene was pretty and stylish; she sang divinely and spent every winter in Charlottetown taking music lessons.