Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the nineteenth chapter of Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

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Take it chapter by chapter won't fight so many adventures and mountains we can climb.

Welcome to Bite at a Time Books, where we read you your favorite classics one byte at a time.

My name is Brie Carlyle, and I love to read and wanted to share my passion with listeners like you.

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Today we'll be continuing Anne of the island by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Chapter 19 and Interlude to think that this is my 20th birthday and that I've left my teens behind me forever, said Anne, who was curled up on the hearthrug with Rusty in her lap to Aunt James, who was reading in her pet chair.

They were alone in the living room, stella and Priscilla had gone to a committee meeting, and Phil was upstairs adorning herself for a party.

I suppose you feel kind of sorry, said Aunt Jamesina.

The teens are such a nice part of life.

I'm glad I've never gone out of them myself.

Anne laughed.

You never will, Auntie.

You'll be 18 when you should be 100.

Yes, I'm sorry.

And a little dissatisfied as well.

Miss Stacy told me long ago that by the time I was 20, my character would be formed for good or evil.

I don't feel that it's what it should be.

It's full of flaws.

So's everybody's, said Aunt James.

Zina cheerfully.

Mines cracked in 100 places.

Your Miss Stacy likely meant that when you are 20, your character would have got its permanent bent in one direction or the other and would go on developing in that line.

Don't worry over it, Anne.

Do your duty by God and your neighbor and yourself, and have a good time.

That's my philosophy, and it's always worked pretty well.

Where's Phil off to tonight?

She's going to a dance, and she's.

Got the sweetest dress for it.

Creamy yellow silk and cobwubby lace.

It just suits those brown tints of hers.

There's magic in the word silk and lace, isn't there?

Said Aunt James.

The very sound of them makes me feel like skipping off to a dance.

And yellow silk.

It makes one think of a dress of sunshine.

I always wanted a yellow silk dress, but first my mother and then my husband wouldn't hear of it.

The very first thing I'm going to do when I get to heaven is to get a yellow silk dress.

Amid Anne's peal of laughter, Phil came downstairs trailing clouds of glory and surveyed herself in the long oval mirror on the wall.

A flattering looking glass is a promoter of amiability, she said.

The one in my room does certainly make me green.

Do I look?

Pretty nice.

Anne do you really know how pretty you are, Phil?

Asked Anne in honest admiration.

Of course I do.

What are looking glasses and dement for?

That wasn't what I meant.

Are all my ends tucked in?

Is my skirt straight?

And would this rose look better lower down?

I'm afraid it's too high.

It will make me look lopsided.

But I hate things tickling my ears.

Everything is just right.

And that southwest temple of yours is lovely.

And there's one thing in particular I like about you.

You're so ungrudging, there isn't a particle of envy in you.

Why should she be envious?

Demanded Aunt James.

She's not quite as good looking as you may be, but she's got a far handsomer nose.

I know it conceded phil.

My nose always has been a great comfort to me, confessed Anne.

And I love the way your hair grows on your forehead, Anne.

And that one weak curl always looking as if it were going to drop, but never dropping.

It's delicious.

As for the noses, mine is a dreadful worry to me.

I know by the time I'm 40 it will be Byrony.

What do you think I'll look like when I'm 40, Anne?

Like an old matronly married woman, teased Anne.

I won't, said Phil, sitting down comfortably to wait for her escort.

Joseph, you calico beastie, don't you dare jump on my lap.

I won't go to a dance all over cat hairs.

No, Anne, I won't look matrinly.

But no doubt I'll be married to Alec or Alonzo.

Asked Anne.

To one of them, I suppose, sighed Phil, if I can ever decide which.

It shouldn't be hard to decide, scolded, Aunt James.

I was born a seesaw ante and nothing can ever prevent me from teetering.

You ought to be more level headed, Felipa.

It is best to be level headed, of course, agreed Felipa, but you missed lots of fun.

As for Alec and DELONZO, if you knew them, you'd understand why it's difficult to choose between them.

They're equally nice.

Then take somebody who is nicer, suggested Aunt James.

There's that senior who is so devoted to you, Will Leslie.

He has such nice, large, mild eyes.

They're a little bit too large and too mild like a cow's, said Phil cruelly.

What do you say about George Parker?

There's nothing to say about him except that he always looks as if he had just been starched and ironed mar holeworthy.

Then you can't find a fault with him.

No, he would do if he wasn't poor.

I must marry a rich man, Aunt Jamesina.

That and good looks is an indispensable qualification.

I'd marry Gilbert Blithe if he were rich.

Oh, would you?

Said Anne rather viciously.

We don't like that idea a little bit.

Although we don't want Gilbert ourselves.

Oh, no.

Mocked phil but don't let's talk of disagreeable subjects.

I'll have to marry sometime, I suppose.

But I shall put off the evil day as long as I can.

You mustn't marry anybody you don't love, Phil.

When all said and done, said Aunt James.

Oh, hearts that loved in the good old way have been out of fashion this many a day, drilled phil mockingly there's the carriage I fly.

Bye bye, you two old fashioned darlings.

When Phil had gone, aunt Jamesina looked solemnly at Anne.

That girl is pretty and sweet and good hearted.

But do you think she is quite right in her mind by spells, Anne?

Oh, I don't think there's anything the matter with Phil's mind, said Anne, hiding a smile.

It's just her way of talking.

Aunt Jamesina shook her head.

Well, I hope so, Anne.

I do hope so.

Because I love her, but I can't understand her.

She beats me.

She isn't like any of the girls I ever knew or any of the girls I was myself.

How many girls were you, Aunt Jim?

Z.

About half a dozen, my dear.

Thank you for joining Bite at the Time Books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics.

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Again.

My name is Brie Carlyle, and I hope you come back tomorrow for the next bite of Anne of the island.