“Then I’m Conservative too,” said Anne decidedly. “I’m glad, because Gil⁠— because some of the boys in school are Grits. I guess Mr. Phillips is a Grit too, because Prissy Andrews’ father is one, and Ruby Gillis says that when a man is courting he always has to agree with the girl’s mother in religion and her father in politics. Is that true, Matthew?”

“Well now, I dunno,” said Matthew.

“Did you ever go courting, Matthew?”

“Well now, no, I dunno’s I ever did,” said Matthew, who had certainly never thought of such a thing in his whole existence.

Anne reflected with her chin in her hands.