Marilla's newly adopted twins, Davy and Dora, were not noticeably alike, although both were fair.
Dora had long curls that always looked perfect.
Davy had a crop of fuzzy little yellow ringlets all over his round head.
Dora's hazel eyes were gentle and mild. Davy's eyes were mischievous.
After the twins had arrived at Green Gables and unpacked, they had their first dinner with their new family.
At the dinner table, Dora behaved like a little lady, but Davy's manners left much to be desired.
"I'm so hungry I don't have time to eat politely," he said when Marilla scolded him.
"That cake's really delicious," Davy said.
"We haven't eaten cake for so long because mother was too sick to make it. Can I have another piece?"
Marilla would have refused, but Anne cut a generous second slice.
As she passed it to Davy, she reminded him that he should say thank you.
Davy merely grinned at Anne and took a huge bite.
When Davy had finished the slice he said, "If you'll give me another piece, I'll say thank you."
"No, you've had plenty of cake," said Marilla in a stern tone.
Davy winked at Anne and then snatched Dora's first piece of cake, from which she had taken only one dainty little bite.
He opened his mouth wide and crammed the whole slice in.
Dora's lip trembled, and Marilla was speechless with anger.
Anne promptly exclaimed, in her best schoolteacher's voice, "Davy, gentlemen don't do things like that."
"I know they don't," said Davy, as soon as he could speak. "But I'm not a gentleman."
"Don't you want to be?" said Anne.
"Of course I do," said Davy. "But you can't be a gentleman till you grow up."
"You can start to be a gentleman now, Davy," Anne said.
"And gentlemen never snatch things or forget to say thank you."
"Gentlemen don't have much fun," said Davy.
"I think I'll wait till I'm grown up."
"Davy and Dora, it's time for bed," said Marilla, who was exhausted and wondering how she would ever cope with Davy.
Marilla would remember the first week with the twins forever.
It wasn't so different from the second week or the third week, but by the third week she was used to life with them.
It seemed that Davy was always causing mischief or devising it.
Davy's first major exploit occurred two days after his arrival, on Sunday morning.
Anne dressed him for church while Marilla looked after Dora.
Davy objected strongly to having his face washed.
"Marilla washed it yesterday, and that's enough for one week. It's more comfortable being dirty."
"Paul Irving washes his face every day by himself," said Anne.
Davy had been living at Green Gables for little over 48 hours,
but he already worshipped Anne and hated Paul Irving, even though he hadn't met him yet.
Anne had praised Paul enthusiastically the day after Davy's arrival.
If Paul Irving washed his face every day, that settled it.
He, Davy Keith, would do it too.
At church Davy behaved quite well at first.
He looked at all the boys and wondered which one was Paul Irving.
But then Davy looked at the girl sitting in front of him.
She was dressed in a violet dress with a frilly neck.
Davy thrust his hand into his pocket and produced a furry, squirming caterpillar.
Marilla saw Davy and tried to grab him, but she was too late.
Davy dropped the caterpillar down the girl's neck.
In the middle of the minister's prayer, there was a series of piercing shrieks.
The minister stopped and opened his eyes. Every head turned.
Laura White was dancing up and down on the church pew, clutching frantically at the back of her dress.
"Oh, Mommy, Mommy! Eek! Get it out! That bad boy put it down my neck! Mommy, it's going further down. Ahh!"
Mrs. White rose and carried the hysterical Laura out of church.
Marilla and Anne held Davy firmly for the rest of the church service, and their faces stayed a bright red.
When they got home, Marilla put Davy to bed and made him stay there for the rest of the day.
Later Anne went into his room.
"I suppose," Davy said, "that Paul Irving wouldn't have dropped a caterpillar down a girl's neck in church, would he?"
"Indeed he wouldn't," said Anne sadly.
"Well, I'm kind of sorry I did it then," said Davy.
"But it was such a big caterpillar. It seemed a pity to waste him.
And say, wasn't it fun to hear that girl yell?" Anne looked sternly at Davy.
"I . . . did something else today," Davy went on in a muffled voice.
"I'm sorry now, but I'm awful scared to tell you."
"Davy, what is it you've done?" Anne asked.
"I put a toad in Marilla's bed. You can go and take it out if you like.
But say, Anne, wouldn't it be fun to leave it there?"
"Davy Keith!" Anne sprang from Davy's clinging arms and ran across the hall to Marilla's room. The bed was slightly rumpled.
Anne nervously drew back the blankets and there was the toad, blinking at her from under a pillow.
"How can I carry that awful thing out?" moaned Anne with a shudder, and then she got a shovel from the yard.
"With Davy at home and Anthony Pye at school, my nerves are almost worn out!" thought Anne.