As for your tongue, it's a marvel it's not clean worn out." Anne sighed and betook herself to the back yard, over which a young new moon was shining through the leafless poplar boughs from an apple-green western sky, and where Matthew was splitting wood.

Anne perched herself on a block and talked the concert over with him, sure of an appreciative and sympathetic listener in this instance at least.
"Well now, I reckon it's going to be a pretty good concert.

And I expect you'll do your part fine," he said, smiling down into her eager, vivacious little face.

Anne smiled back at him.

Those two were the best of friends and Matthew thanked his stars many a time and oft that he had nothing to do with bringing her up.