Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia had had their last big `` kill '' of market poultry the day before ; and early in the morning all our grown-ups set forth to Charlottetown , to be gone the whole day . They left us many charges as usual , some of which we remembered and some of which we forgot ; but with Felicity in command none of us dared stray far out of line . The Story Girl and Peter came over , of course , and we all agreed that we would haste and get the work done in the forenoon , that we might have an afternoon of uninterrupted enjoyment . A taffy-pull after dinner and then a jolly hour of coasting on the hill field before supper were on our programme . But disappointment was our portion . We did manage to get the taffy made but before we could sample the result satisfactorily , and just as the girls were finishing with the washing of the dishes , Felicity glanced out of the window and exclaimed in tones of dismay , `` Oh , dear me , here 's Great-aunt Eliza coming up the lane ! Now , is n't that too mean ? '' We all looked out to see a tall , gray-haired lady approaching the house , looking about her with the slightly puzzled air of a stranger . We had been expecting Great-aunt Eliza 's advent for some weeks , for she was visiting relatives in Markdale . We knew she was liable to pounce down on us any time , being one of those delightful folk who like to `` surprise '' people , but we had never thought of her coming that particular day . It must be confessed that we did not look forward to her visit with any pleasure . None of us had ever seen her , but we knew she was very deaf , and had very decided opinions as to the way in which children should behave . `` Whew ! '' whistled Dan . `` We 're in for a jolly afternoon . She 's deaf as a post and we 'll have to split our throats to make her hear at all . I 've a notion to skin out . '' `` Oh , do n't talk like that , Dan , '' said Cecily reproachfully . `` She 's old and lonely and has had a great deal of trouble . She has buried three husbands .
We must be kind to her and do the best we can XXXXX make her visit pleasant . ''
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