Anne Shirley, now in village parlance Mrs. Dr. Blythe, has six healthy youngsters who figure in the story and contribute the title, their own name for their favorite playground, but it is the manse family of four which holds the center of the stage. Now minister's children are always entertaining in fiction and the Merediths are no exception, not because they have to scrimp and save to keep up appearances, but because the word "appearances" is not in their vocabulary at all! says it would hurt Aunt Martha's feelings. Anne dearie, believe me, the state of that manse is something terrible. Everything is thick with dust and nothing is ever in its place. And we had painted and papered it all so nice before they came." "There are four children, you say?" asked Anne, beginning to mother them already in her heart. "Yes. They run up just like the steps of a stair. Gerald's the oldest. He's twelve and they call him Jerry. He's a clever boy. Faith is eleven. She is a regular tomboy but pretty as a picture, I must say." "She looks like an angel but she is a holy terror for mischief, Mrs. Dr. dear," said Susan solemnly. "I was at the manse one night last week and Mrs. James Millison was there, too. She had brought them up a dozen eggs and a little pail of milk--a VERY little pail, Mrs. Dr. dear. Faith took them and whisked down the cellar with them. Near the bottom of the stairs she caught her toe and fell the rest of the way, milk and eggs and all.