Chapter 6 Marilla Arrives with Twins Mrs. Rachel Lynde was sitting at her window working on a quilt.
Several years ago, sitting at that same window, she had seen Matthew Ride passed in a suit.
He had been going to the train station to pick up Anne.
This time, she watched as Marilla rode past in the carriage.
She was heading back to Green Gables.
Marilla is returning from her cousin's funeral, Mrs. Lynn said to her husband Thomas.
He was lying on the living room couch.
Mr. Lynn spent a great deal of time on the couch these days.
He had been feeling unwell for quite some time.
Mrs. Lynn strained to look at the carriage as it passed.
And it looks like she has the twins with her, she said.
Is that so?
Mr. Lynde said without opening his eyes.
It seems that Marilla will have her hands full this winter, Mrs. Lynde said, shaking her head.
She's doing the right thing, though, and she does have Anne to help her.
Anne is very excited about the twins coming to stay.
That girl does have a way with children.
Is that so?
Mr. Lynde said again.
His voice was very soft.
When Marilla arrived at Green Gables, she was exhausted.
The funeral had been hard, but the ride home had been even harder.
The twins, Davy and Dora, were as different as night and day.
Dora was gentle and quiet.
Davy was wild and full of energy.
He just could not keep still or stop talking.
He bounded out of the carriage and ran up to Anne.
Hello, he shouted.
My name is Davy.
I've come to live here.
I know, Anne said, smiling.
I'm very happy about it, too.
Davy, Marilla said.
If you can't be quiet, I'm going to send you to your room without dinner.
It's been a long day and I'm getting a headache.
Oh, Davy said you wouldn't really send me to bed, would you?
Anne laughed.
Davy, you'll soon learn that Marilla means every word she says.
She's not one for idle talk.
Marilla sighed and helped Dora down from the carriage.
Anne walked over to the little girl.
Hello there, she said.
It's nice to meet you, Dora.
My name is Anne.
Hello, Anne, Dora said quietly.
Anne knelt down before her.
I'm glad you can stay with us for a while.
Would you like to come in for some dinner?
Yes, Anne, she said rather seriously.
That would be nice.
All through dinner, Dora behaved like a perfect lady.
Davy, however, caused nonstop trouble.
When Marilla tried to correct him, he said he had no choice.
I'm too hungry to be polite, he said.
Dora doesn't need to eat as much as me.
She doesn't get as much exercise because she's so quiet.
Also, it's been ages since we had cake or real plums.
Mother was too sick to make us one.
Anne could not help laughing.
She cut him another big piece of cake before Marilla could object.
In his first week at Green Gables, Davy found time to get in numerous scrapes.
He dropped a caterpillar down his sister's dress.
He tried to keep a toad in his bed.
He even convinced Dora to walk along the fence.
She fell in the mud and ruined her dress, and then he locked her inside Mr. Harrison's woodshed.
The poor girl was very upset when Anne opened the door to let her out.
Davy was not a mean boy.
He simply did not think.
He was good-natured and laughed often, but he always found trouble.
Davy adored Anne.
He desperately wanted to impress her.
He tried not to get into scrapes, but they just seemed to happen.
He wished he could be more like Paul Irving.
Davy had heard Anne speak about Paul, and she always said wonderful things.
Davy was very jealous of the older boy.
I suppose Paul Irving wouldn't knock the butter over during a meal.
He sulked one night after he knocked the butter off the table.
Paul is very careful, Anne said.
Although he is four years older than you, and accidents do happen.
Davy was not convinced.
He knew that Anne was very fond of Paul.
From that moment on, Davy considered Paul his greatest rival.
When he went to bed that night, Davy promised himself that he would be as polite and careful as Paul.
Unfortunately, he had forgotten all about his promise by the next morning, getting into several scrapes even before noon.
