Chapter XIX. A Concert a Catastrophe and a Confession

           Marilla,canIgoovertoseeDianajustforaminute?”askedAnne,runningbreathlesslydownfromtheeastgableoneFebruaryevening.

           “Idon’tseewhatyouwanttobetraipsingaboutafterdarkfor,”saidMarillashortly.“YouandDianawalkedhomefromschooltogetherandthenstooddownthereinthesnowforhalfanhourmore,yourtonguesgoingthewholeblessedtime,clickety-clack.SoIdon’tthinkyou’reverybadlyofftoseeheragain.”

           “Butshewantstoseeme,”pleadedAnne.“Shehassomethingveryimportanttotellme.”

           “Howdoyouknowshehas?”

           “Becauseshejustsignaledtomefromherwindow.Wehavearrangedawaytosignalwithourcandlesandcardboard.Wesetthecandleonthewindowsillandmakeflashesbypassingthecardboardbackandforth.Somanyflashesmeanacertainthing.Itwasmyidea,Marilla.”

           “I’llwarrantyouitwas,”saidMarillaemphatically.“Andthenextthingyou’llbesettingfiretothecurtainswithyoursignalingnonsense.”

           “Oh,we’reverycareful,Marilla.Andit’ssointeresting.Twoflashesmean,‘Areyouthere?’Threemean‘yes’andfour‘no.’Fivemean,‘Comeoverassoonaspossible,becauseIhavesomethingimportanttoreveal.’Dianahasjustsignaledfiveflashes,andI’mreallysufferingtoknowwhatitis.”

           “Well,youneedn’tsufferanylonger,”saidMarillasarcastically.“Youcango,butyou’retobebackhereinjusttenminutes,rememberthat.