It was all just as Anne had known it must be.
By this time the silence had grown too dreadful, and Priscilla nudged Anne to intimate that she must speak.
"We--we--saw by your sign that this house is to let," said Anne faintly, addressing the older lady, who was evidently Miss Patty Spofford.
"Oh, yes," said Miss Patty.

"I intended to take that sign down today." "Then--then we are too late," said Anne sorrowfully.

"You've let it to some one else ?" "No, but we have decided not to let it at all." "Oh, I'm so sorry," exclaimed Anne impulsively.

"I love this place so.

I did hope we could have got it." Then did Miss Patty lay down her knitting, take off her specs, rub them, put them on again, and for the first time look at Anne as at a human being.