Anne has been allowed to invite her best friend, Diana Barry, to tea. After Anne takes Diana to lay off her coat and hat, the two friends go to the sitting-room and imitate grown-ups by making polite, formal conversation, as befits a hostess and her guest.

“How is your mother?” inquired Anne politely just as if she had not seen Mrs. Barry picking apples that morning in excellent health and spirits.

“She is very well, thank you. I suppose Mr. Cuthbert is hauling potatoes to the Lily Sands this afternoon, is he?” said Diana, who had ridden down to Mr. Harmon Andrews’ that morning in Matthew’s cart.

“Yes. Our potato crop is very good this year. I hope your father’s potato crop is good, too.”

“It is fairly good, thank you. Have you picked many of your apples yet?”

“Oh, ever so many,” said Anne, forgetting to be dignified and jumping up quickly. “Let’s go out to the orchard and get some of the Red Sweetings, Diana. Marilla says we can have all that are left on the tree.” (171)

From L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, L. C. Page, 1908.