She was beginning to be afraid she couldn't keep the tears back when Mrs.Spencer returned, flushed and beaming, quite capable of taking any and every difficulty, physical, mental or spiritual, into consideration and settling it out of hand.
"It seems there's been a mistake about this little girl, Mrs.Blewett," she said.

"I was under the impression that Mr.and Miss Cuthbert wanted a little girl to adopt.

I was certainly told so.

But it seems it was a boy they wanted.

So if you're still of the same mind you were yesterday, I think she'll be just the thing for you." Mrs.Blewett darted her eyes over Anne from head to foot.
"How old are you and what's your name ?" she demanded.
"Anne Shirley," faltered the shrinking child, not daring to make any stipulations regarding the spelling thereof, "and I'm eleven years old." "Humph! You don't look as if there was much to you.