I 'll get you out of the scrape , if I have to prove that you never had Fatima , that she is safe in your possession at the present time , and that there never was such an animal as Fatima anyhow . I 'll do anything , say anything -- but it must be for my future wife . '' `` Will nothing else content you ? '' I said helplessly . `` Nothing . '' I thought hard . Of course Max was acting abominably -- but -- but -- he was really a dear fellow -- and this was the twelfth time -- and there was Anne Shirley ! I knew in my secret soul that life would be a dreadfully dismal thing if Max were not around somewhere . Besides , I would have married him long ago had not Aunt Cynthia thrown us so pointedly at each other 's heads ever since he came to Spencervale . `` Very well , '' I said crossly . Max left for Halifax in the morning . Next day we got a wire saying it was all right . The evening of the following day he was back in Spencervale . Ismay and I put him in a chair and glared at him impatiently . Max began to laugh and laughed until he turned blue . `` I am glad it is so amusing , '' said Ismay severely . `` If Sue and I could see the joke it might be more so . '' `` Dear little girls , have patience with me , '' implored Max . `` If you knew what it cost me to keep a straight face in Halifax you would forgive me for breaking out now . '' `` We forgive you -- but for pity 's sake tell us all about it , '' I cried .
`` Well , as soon as I arrived in Halifax I hurried to 110 Hollis Street , but -- XXXXX here !
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