English
“Whatasplendidday!”saidAnne,drawingalongbreath.
“Isn’titgoodjusttobealiveonadaylikethis?
Ipitythepeoplewhoaren’tbornyetformissingit.
Theymayhavegooddays,ofcourse,buttheycanneverhavethisone.
Andit’ssplendiderstilltohavesuchalovelywaytogotoschoolby,isn’tit?”
“It’salotnicerthangoingroundbytheroad;thatissodustyandhot,”saidDianapractically,peepingintoherdinnerbasketandmentallycalculatingifthethreejuicy,toothsome,raspberrytartsreposingthereweredividedamongtengirlshowmanybiteseachgirlwouldhave.
ThelittlegirlsofAvonleaschoolalwayspooledtheirlunches,andtoeatthreeraspberrytartsallaloneoreventosharethemonlywithone’sbestchumwouldhaveforeverandeverbrandedas“awfulmean”thegirlwhodidit.
Andyet,whenthetartsweredividedamongtengirlsyoujustgotenoughtotantalizeyou.
ThewayAnneandDianawenttoschoolWASaprettyone.
AnnethoughtthosewalkstoandfromschoolwithDianacouldn’tbeimproveduponevenbyimagination.
Goingaroundbythemainroadwouldhavebeensounromantic;buttogobyLover’sLaneandWillowmereandVioletValeandtheBirchPathwasromantic,ifeveranythingwas.
Lover’sLaneopenedoutbelowtheorchardatGreenGablesandstretchedfarupintothewoodstotheendoftheCuthbertfarm.
Itwasthewaybywhichthecowsweretakentothebackpastureandthewoodhauledhomeinwinter.
AnnehadnameditLover’sLanebeforeshehadbeenamonthatGreenGables.
“Notthatloverseverreallywalkthere,”sheexplainedtoMarilla,“butDianaandIarereadingaperfectlymagnificentbookandthere’saLover’sLaneinit.Sowewanttohaveone,too.
Andit’saveryprettyname,don’tyouthink?Soromantic!
Wecan’timaginetheloversintoit,youknow.
Ilikethatlanebecauseyoucanthinkoutloudtherewithoutpeoplecallingyoucrazy.”
Anne,startingoutaloneinthemorning,wentdownLover’sLaneasfarasthebrook.
HereDianamether,andthetwolittlegirlswentonupthelaneundertheleafyarchofmaples—”maplesaresuchsociabletrees,”saidAnne;“they’realwaysrustlingandwhisperingtoyou”—untiltheycametoarusticbridge.
ThentheyleftthelaneandwalkedthroughMr.Barry’sbackfieldandpastWillowmere.
BeyondWillowmerecameVioletVale—alittlegreendimpleintheshadowofMr.AndrewBell’sbigwoods.
“Ofcoursetherearenovioletstherenow,”AnnetoldMarilla,“butDianasaystherearemillionsoftheminspring.
Oh,Marilla,can’tyoujustimagineyouseethem?Itactuallytakesawaymybreath.InameditVioletVale.
Dianasayssheneversawthebeatofmeforhittingonfancynamesforplaces.
It’snicetobecleveratsomething,isn’tit?ButDiananamedtheBirchPath.
Shewantedto,soIlether;butI’msureIcouldhavefoundsomethingmorepoeticalthanplainBirchPath.Anybodycanthinkofanamelikethat.
ButtheBirchPathisoneoftheprettiestplacesintheworld,Marilla.”
Itwas.OtherpeoplebesidesAnnethoughtsowhentheystumbledonit.
Itwasalittlenarrow,twistingpath,windingdownoveralonghillstraightthroughMr.Bell’swoods,wherethelightcamedownsiftedthroughsomanyemeraldscreensthatitwasasflawlessastheheartofadiamond.
Itwasfringedinallitslengthwithslimyoungbirches,whitestemmedandlissomboughed;fernsandstarflowersandwildlilies-of-the-valleyandscarlettuftsofpigeonberriesgrewthicklyalongit;andalwaystherewasadelightfulspicinessintheairandmusicofbirdcallsandthemurmurandlaughofwoodwindsinthetreesoverhead.
Nowandthenyoumightseearabbitskippingacrosstheroadifyouwerequiet—which,withAnneandDiana,happenedaboutonceinabluemoon.
Downinthevalleythepathcameouttothemainroadandthenitwasjustupthesprucehilltotheschool.
TheAvonleaschoolwasawhitewashedbuilding,lowintheeavesandwideinthewindows,furnishedinsidewithcomfortablesubstantialold-fashioneddesksthatopenedandshut,andwerecarvedallovertheirlidswiththeinitialsandhieroglyphicsofthreegenerationsofschoolchildren.
Theschoolhousewassetbackfromtheroadandbehinditwasaduskyfirwoodandabrookwhereallthechildrenputtheirbottlesofmilkinthemorningtokeepcoolandsweetuntildinnerhour.
MarillahadseenAnnestartofftoschoolonthefirstdayofSeptemberwithmanysecretmisgivings.Annewassuchanoddgirl.
Howwouldshegetonwiththeotherchildren?
Andhowonearthwouldsheevermanagetoholdhertongueduringschoolhours?
ThingswentbetterthanMarillafeared,however.Annecamehomethateveninginhighspirits.
“IthinkI’mgoingtolikeschoolhere,”sheannounced.
“Idon’tthinkmuchofthemaster,through.
He’sallthetimecurlinghismustacheandmakingeyesatPrissyAndrews.Prissyisgrownup,youknow.
She’ssixteenandshe’sstudyingfortheentranceexaminationintoQueen’sAcademyatCharlottetownnextyear.
TillieBoultersaysthemasterisDEADGONEonher.
She’sgotabeautifulcomplexionandcurlybrownhairandshedoesitupsoelegantly.
Shesitsinthelongseatatthebackandhesitsthere,too,mostofthetime—toexplainherlessons,hesays.
ButRubyGillissaysshesawhimwritingsomethingonherslateandwhenPrissyreaditsheblushedasredasabeetandgiggled;andRubyGillissaysshedoesn’tbelieveithadanythingtodowiththelesson.”
“AnneShirley,don’tletmehearyoutalkingaboutyourteacherinthatwayagain,”saidMarillasharply.
“Youdon’tgotoschooltocriticizethemaster.
IguesshecanteachYOUsomething,andit’syourbusinesstolearn.
AndIwantyoutounderstandrightoffthatyouarenottocomehometellingtalesabouthim.ThatissomethingIwon’tencourage.Ihopeyouwereagoodgirl.”
“IndeedIwas,”saidAnnecomfortably.“Itwasn’tsohardasyoumightimagine,either.IsitwithDiana.
OurseatisrightbythewindowandwecanlookdowntotheLakeofShiningWaters.
Therearealotofnicegirlsinschoolandwehadscrumptiousfunplayingatdinnertime.
It’ssonicetohavealotoflittlegirlstoplaywith.
ButofcourseIlikeDianabestandalwayswill.IADOREDiana.I’mdreadfullyfarbehindtheothers.
They’reallinthefifthbookandI’monlyinthefourth.Ifeelthatit’skindofadisgrace.
Butthere’snotoneofthemhassuchanimaginationasIhaveandIsoonfoundthatout.
WehadreadingandgeographyandCanadianhistoryanddictationtoday.
Mr.Phillipssaidmyspellingwasdisgracefulandheheldupmyslatesothateverybodycouldseeit,allmarkedover.
Ifeltsomortified,Marilla;hemighthavebeenpolitertoastranger,Ithink.
RubyGillisgavemeanappleandSophiaSloanelentmealovelypinkcardwith‘MayIseeyouhome?’onit.I’mtogiveitbacktohertomorrow.
AndTillieBoulterletmewearherbeadringalltheafternoon.
CanIhavesomeofthosepearlbeadsofftheoldpincushioninthegarrettomakemyselfaring?
Andoh,Marilla,JaneAndrewstoldmethatMinnieMacPhersontoldherthatsheheardPrissyAndrewstellSaraGillisthatIhadaveryprettynose.
Marilla,thatisthefirstcomplimentIhaveeverhadinmylifeandyoucan’timaginewhatastrangefeelingitgaveme.Marilla,haveIreallyaprettynose?Iknowyou’lltellmethetruth.”
“Yournoseiswellenough,”saidMarillashortly.SecretlyshethoughtAnne’snosewasaremarkableprettyone;butshehadnointentionoftellingherso.
Thatwasthreeweeksagoandallhadgonesmoothlysofar.
Andnow,thiscrispSeptembermorning,AnneandDianaweretrippingblithelydowntheBirchPath,twoofthehappiestlittlegirlsinAvonlea.
“IguessGilbertBlythewillbeinschooltoday,”saidDiana.
“He’sbeenvisitinghiscousinsoverinNewBrunswickallsummerandheonlycamehomeSaturdaynight.He’sAW’FLYhandsome,Anne.
Andheteasesthegirlssomethingterrible.Hejusttormentsourlivesout.”
Diana’svoiceindicatedthatsheratherlikedhavingherlifetormentedoutthannot.
“GilbertBlythe?”saidAnne.“Isn’thisnamethat’swrittenupontheporchwallwithJuliaBell’sandabig‘TakeNotice’overthem?”
“Yes,”saidDiana,tossingherhead,“butI’msurehedoesn’tlikeJuliaBellsoverymuch.I’veheardhimsayhestudiedthemultiplicationtablebyherfreckles.”
“Oh,don’tspeakaboutfrecklestome,”imploredAnne.
“Itisn’tdelicatewhenI’vegotsomany.
ButIdothinkthatwritingtake-noticesuponthewallabouttheboysandgirlsisthesilliestever.
Ishouldjustliketoseeanybodydaretowritemynameupwithaboy’s.
Not,ofcourse,”shehastenedtoadd,“thatanybodywould.”
Annesighed.Shedidn’twanthernamewrittenup.Butitwasalittlehumiliatingtoknowthattherewasnodangerofit.
“Nonsense,”saidDiana,whoseblackeyesandglossytresseshadplayedsuchhavocwiththeheartsofAvonleaschoolboysthathernamefiguredontheporchwallsinhalfadozentake-notices.“It’sonlymeantasajoke.
Anddon’tyoubetoosureyournamewon’teverbewrittenup.CharlieSloaneisDEADGONEonyou.
Hetoldhismother—hisMOTHER,mindyou—thatyouwerethesmartestgirlinschool.That’sbetterthanbeinggoodlooking.”
“No,itisn’t,”saidAnne,femininetothecore.“I’dratherbeprettythanclever.
AndIhateCharlieSloane,Ican’tbearaboywithgoggleeyes.
IfanyonewrotemynameupwithhisI’dneverGEToverit,DianaBarry.
ButitISnicetokeepheadofyourclass.”
“You’llhaveGilbertinyourclassafterthis,”saidDiana,“andhe’susedtobeingheadofhisclass,Icantellyou.
He’sonlyinthefourthbookalthoughhe’snearlyfourteen.
FouryearsagohisfatherwassickandhadtogoouttoAlbertaforhishealthandGilbertwentwithhim.
TheyweretherethreeyearsandGildidn’tgotoschoolhardlyanyuntiltheycameback.
Youwon’tfinditsoeasytokeepheadafterthis,Anne.”
“I’mglad,”saidAnnequickly.“Icouldn’treallyfeelproudofkeepingheadoflittleboysandgirlsofjustnineorten.
Igotupyesterdayspelling‘ebullition.’
JosiePyewasheadand,mindyou,shepeepedinherbook.
Mr.Phillipsdidn’tseeher—hewaslookingatPrissyAndrews—butIdid.
Ijustsweptheralookoffreezingscornandshegotasredasabeetandspelleditwrongafterall.”
“ThosePyegirlsarecheatsallround,”saidDianaindignantly,astheyclimbedthefenceofthemainroad.
“GertiePyeactuallywentandputhermilkbottleinmyplaceinthebrookyesterday.Didyouever?Idon’tspeaktohernow.”
WhenMr.PhillipswasinthebackoftheroomhearingPrissyAndrews’sLatin,DianawhisperedtoAnne,
“That’sGilbertBlythesittingrightacrosstheaislefromyou,Anne.Justlookathimandseeifyoudon’tthinkhe’shandsome.”
Annelookedaccordingly.Shehadagoodchancetodoso,forthesaidGilbertBlythewasabsorbedinstealthilypinningthelongyellowbraidofRubyGillis,whosatinfrontofhim,tothebackofherseat.
Hewasatallboy,withcurlybrownhair,roguishhazeleyes,andamouthtwistedintoateasingsmile.
PresentlyRubyGillisstarteduptotakeasumtothemaster;shefellbackintoherseatwithalittleshriek,believingthatherhairwaspulledoutbytheroots.
EverybodylookedatherandMr.PhillipsglaredsosternlythatRubybegantocry.
Gilberthadwhiskedthepinoutofsightandwasstudyinghishistorywiththesoberestfaceintheworld;butwhenthecommotionsubsidedhelookedatAnneandwinkedwithinexpressibledrollery.
“IthinkyourGilbertBlytheIShandsome,”confidedAnnetoDiana,“butIthinkhe’sverybold.Itisn’tgoodmannerstowinkatastrangegirl.”
Butitwasnotuntiltheafternoonthatthingsreallybegantohappen.
Mr.PhillipswasbackinthecornerexplainingaprobleminalgebratoPrissyAndrewsandtherestofthescholarsweredoingprettymuchastheypleasedeatinggreenapples,whispering,drawingpicturesontheirslates,anddrivingcricketsharnessedtostrings,upanddownaisle.
GilbertBlythewastryingtomakeAnneShirleylookathimandfailingutterly,becauseAnnewasatthatmomenttotallyobliviousnotonlytotheveryexistenceofGilbertBlythe,butofeveryotherscholarinAvonleaschoolitself.
WithherchinproppedonherhandsandhereyesfixedontheblueglimpseoftheLakeofShiningWatersthatthewestwindowafforded,shewasfarawayinagorgeousdreamlandhearingandseeingnothingsaveherownwonderfulvisions.
GilbertBlythewasn’tusedtoputtinghimselfouttomakeagirllookathimandmeetingwithfailure.
SheSHOULDlookathim,thatred-hairedShirleygirlwiththelittlepointedchinandthebigeyesthatweren’tliketheeyesofanyothergirlinAvonleaschool.
Gilbertreachedacrosstheaisle,pickeduptheendofAnne’slongredbraid,helditoutatarm’slengthandsaidinapiercingwhisper:
“Carrots!Carrots!”
ThenAnnelookedathimwithavengeance!
Shedidmorethanlook.Shesprangtoherfeet,herbrightfanciesfallenintocurelessruin.
SheflashedoneindignantglanceatGilbertfromeyeswhoseangrysparklewasswiftlyquenchedinequallyangrytears.
“Youmean,hatefulboy!”sheexclaimedpassionately.“Howdareyou!”
Andthen—thwack!AnnehadbroughtherslatedownonGilbert’sheadandcrackedit—slatenothead—clearacross.
Avonleaschoolalwaysenjoyedascene.Thiswasanespeciallyenjoyableone.
Everybodysaid“Oh”inhorrifieddelight.Dianagasped.
RubyGillis,whowasinclinedtobehysterical,begantocry.
TommySloanelethisteamofcricketsescapehimaltogetherwhilehestaredopen-mouthedatthetableau.
Mr.PhillipsstalkeddowntheaisleandlaidhishandheavilyonAnne’sshoulder.
“AnneShirley,whatdoesthismean?”hesaidangrily.Annereturnednoanswer.
Itwasaskingtoomuchoffleshandbloodtoexpecthertotellbeforethewholeschoolthatshehadbeencalled“carrots.”Gilbertitwaswhospokeupstoutly.
“ItwasmyfaultMr.Phillips.Iteasedher.”
Mr.PhillipspaidnoheedtoGilbert.
“Iamsorrytoseeapupilofminedisplayingsuchatemperandsuchavindictivespirit,”hesaidinasolemntone,asifthemerefactofbeingapupilofhisoughttorootoutallevilpassionsfromtheheartsofsmallimperfectmortals.
“Anne,goandstandontheplatforminfrontoftheblackboardfortherestoftheafternoon.”
Annewouldhaveinfinitelypreferredawhippingtothispunishmentunderwhichhersensitivespiritquiveredasfromawhiplash.Withawhite,setfacesheobeyed.
Mr.Phillipstookachalkcrayonandwroteontheblackboardaboveherhead.
“AnnShirleyhasaverybadtemper.AnnShirleymustlearntocontrolhertemper,”andthenreaditoutloudsothateventheprimerclass,whocouldn’treadwriting,shouldunderstandit.
Annestoodtheretherestoftheafternoonwiththatlegendaboveher.Shedidnotcryorhangherhead.
Angerwasstilltoohotinherheartforthatanditsustainedheramidallheragonyofhumiliation.
Withresentfuleyesandpassion-redcheekssheconfrontedalikeDiana’ssympatheticgazeandCharlieSloane’sindignantnodsandJosiePye’smalicioussmiles.
AsforGilbertBlythe,shewouldnotevenlookathim.ShewouldNEVERlookathimagain!Shewouldneverspeaktohim!!
WhenschoolwasdismissedAnnemarchedoutwithherredheadheldhigh.GilbertBlythetriedtointerceptherattheporchdoor.
“I’mawfullysorryImadefunofyourhair,Anne,”hewhisperedcontritely.“HonestIam.Don’tbemadforkeeps,now.”
Annesweptbydisdainfully,withoutlookorsignofhearing.“Ohhowcouldyou,Anne?”
breathedDianaastheywentdowntheroadhalfreproachfully,halfadmiringly.
DianafeltthatSHEcouldneverhaveresistedGilbert’splea.
“IshallneverforgiveGilbertBlythe,”saidAnnefirmly.“AndMr.Phillipsspelledmynamewithoutane,too.Theironhasenteredintomysoul,Diana.”
Dianahadn’ttheleastideawhatAnnemeantbutsheunderstooditwassomethingterrible.
“Youmustn’tmindGilbertmakingfunofyourhair,”shesaidsoothingly.“Why,hemakesfunofallthegirls.
Helaughsatminebecauseit’ssoblack.
He’scalledmeacrowadozentimes;andIneverheardhimapologizeforanythingbefore,either.”
“There’sagreatdealofdifferencebetweenbeingcalledacrowandbeingcalledcarrots,”saidAnnewithdignity.“GilbertBlythehashurtmyfeelingsEXCRUCIATINGLY,Diana.”
Itispossiblethemattermighthaveblownoverwithoutmoreexcruciationifnothingelsehadhappened.Butwhenthingsbegintohappentheyareapttokeepon.
AvonleascholarsoftenspentnoonhourpickingguminMr.Bell’ssprucegroveoverthehillandacrosshisbigpasturefield.
FromtheretheycouldkeepaneyeonEbenWright’shouse,wherethemasterboarded.
WhentheysawMr.Phillipsemergingtherefromtheyranfortheschoolhouse;butthedistancebeingaboutthreetimeslongerthanMr.Wright’slanetheywereveryapttoarrivethere,breathlessandgasping,somethreeminutestoolate.
OnthefollowingdayMr.Phillipswasseizedwithoneofhisspasmodicfitsofreformandannouncedbeforegoinghometodinner,thatheshouldexpecttofindallthescholarsintheirseatswhenhereturned.
Anyonewhocameinlatewouldbepunished.
AlltheboysandsomeofthegirlswenttoMr.Bell’ssprucegroveasusual,fullyintendingtostayonlylongenoughto“pickachew.”
Butsprucegrovesareseductiveandyellownutsofgumbeguiling;theypickedandloiteredandstrayed;andasusualthefirstthingthatrecalledthemtoasenseoftheflightoftimewasJimmyGlovershoutingfromthetopofapatriarchaloldspruce“Master’scoming.”
Thegirlswhowereontheground,startedfirstandmanagedtoreachtheschoolhouseintimebutwithoutasecondtospare.
Theboys,whohadtowrigglehastilydownfromthetrees,werelater;andAnne,whohadnotbeenpickinggumatallbutwaswanderinghappilyinthefarendofthegrove,waistdeepamongthebracken,singingsoftlytoherself,withawreathofriceliliesonherhairasifsheweresomewilddivinityoftheshadowyplaces,waslatestofall.
Annecouldrunlikeadeer,however;runshedidwiththeimpishresultthatsheovertooktheboysatthedoorandwassweptintotheschoolhouseamongthemjustasMr.Phillipswasintheactofhanginguphishat.
Mr.Phillips’sbriefreformingenergywasover;hedidn’twantthebotherofpunishingadozenpupils;butitwasnecessarytodosomethingtosavehisword,sohelookedaboutforascapegoatandfounditinAnne,whohaddroppedintoherseat,gaspingforbreath,withaforgottenlilywreathhangingaskewoveroneearandgivingheraparticularlyrakishanddisheveledappearance.
“AnneShirley,sinceyouseemtobesofondoftheboys’companyweshallindulgeyourtasteforitthisafternoon,”hesaidsarcastically.
“TakethoseflowersoutofyourhairandsitwithGilbertBlythe.”
Theotherboyssnickered.Diana,turningpalewithpity,pluckedthewreathfromAnne’shairandsqueezedherhand.Annestaredatthemasterasifturnedtostone.
“DidyouhearwhatIsaid,Anne?”queriedMr.Phillipssternly.
“Yes,sir,”saidAnneslowly“butIdidn’tsupposeyoureallymeantit.”
“IassureyouIdid”—stillwiththesarcasticinflectionwhichallthechildren,andAnneespecially,hated.Itflickedontheraw.“Obeymeatonce.”
ForamomentAnnelookedasifshemeanttodisobey.
Then,realizingthattherewasnohelpforit,sherosehaughtily,steppedacrosstheaisle,satdownbesideGilbertBlythe,andburiedherfaceinherarmsonthedesk.
RubyGillis,whogotaglimpseofitasitwentdown,toldtheothersgoinghomefromschoolthatshe’d“acksuallyneverseenanythinglikeit—itwassowhite,withawfullittleredspotsinit.”
ToAnne,thiswasastheendofallthings.
Itwasbadenoughtobesingledoutforpunishmentfromamongadozenequallyguiltyones;itwasworsestilltobesenttositwithaboy,butthatthatboyshouldbeGilbertBlythewasheapinginsultoninjurytoadegreeutterlyunbearable.
Annefeltthatshecouldnotbearitanditwouldbeofnousetotry.
Herwholebeingseethedwithshameandangerandhumiliation.
Atfirsttheotherscholarslookedandwhisperedandgiggledandnudged.
ButasAnneneverliftedherheadandasGilbertworkedfractionsasifhiswholesoulwasabsorbedinthemandthemonly,theysoonreturnedtotheirowntasksandAnnewasforgotten.
WhenMr.PhillipscalledthehistoryclassoutAnneshouldhavegone,butAnnedidnotmove,andMr.Phillips,whohadbeenwritingsomeverses“ToPriscilla”beforehecalledtheclass,wasthinkingaboutanobstinaterhymestillandnevermissedher.
Once,whennobodywaslooking,Gilberttookfromhisdeskalittlepinkcandyheartwithagoldmottoonit,“Youaresweet,”andslippeditunderthecurveofAnne’sarm.
WhereuponAnnearose,tookthepinkheartgingerlybetweenthetipsofherfingers,droppeditonthefloor,groundittopowderbeneathherheel,andresumedherpositionwithoutdeigningtobestowaglanceonGilbert.
WhenschoolwentoutAnnemarchedtoherdesk,ostentatiouslytookouteverythingtherein,booksandwritingtablet,penandink,testamentandarithmetic,andpiledthemneatlyonhercrackedslate.
“Whatareyoutakingallthosethingshomefor,Anne?”Dianawantedtoknow,assoonastheywereoutontheroad.Shehadnotdaredtoaskthequestionbefore.
“Iamnotcomingbacktoschoolanymore,”saidAnne.DianagaspedandstaredatAnnetoseeifshemeantit.
“WillMarillaletyoustayhome?”sheasked.
“She’llhaveto,”saidAnne.“I’llNEVERgotoschooltothatmanagain.”
“Oh,Anne!”Dianalookedasifshewerereadytocry.“Idothinkyou’remean.WhatshallIdo?
Mr.PhillipswillmakemesitwiththathorridGertiePye—Iknowhewillbecausesheissittingalone.Docomeback,Anne.”
“I’ddoalmostanythingintheworldforyou,Diana,”saidAnnesadly.
“I’dletmyselfbetornlimbfromlimbifitwoulddoyouanygood.
ButIcan’tdothis,sopleasedon’taskit.Youharrowupmyverysoul.”
“Justthinkofallthefunyouwillmiss,”mournedDiana.
“Wearegoingtobuildtheloveliestnewhousedownbythebrook;andwe’llbeplayingballnextweekandyou’veneverplayedball,Anne.It’stremendouslyexciting.
Andwe’regoingtolearnanewsong—JaneAndrewsispracticingitupnow;andAliceAndrewsisgoingtobringanewPansybooknextweekandwe’reallgoingtoreaditoutloud,chapterabout,downbythebrook.
Andyouknowyouaresofondofreadingoutloud,Anne.”
NothingmovedAnneintheleast.Hermindwasmadeup.ShewouldnotgotoschooltoMr.Phillipsagain;shetoldMarillasowhenshegothome.
“Nonsense,”saidMarilla.
“Itisn’tnonsenseatall,”saidAnne,gazingatMarillawithsolemn,reproachfuleyes.“Don’tyouunderstand,Marilla?I’vebeeninsulted.”
“Insultedfiddlesticks!You’llgotoschooltomorrowasusual.”
“Oh,no.”Anneshookherheadgently.“I’mnotgoingback,Marilla.
I’lllearnmylessonsathomeandI’llbeasgoodasIcanbeandholdmytongueallthetimeifit’spossibleatall.
ButIwillnotgobacktoschool,Iassureyou.”
MarillasawsomethingremarkablylikeunyieldingstubbornnesslookingoutofAnne’ssmallface.
Sheunderstoodthatshewouldhavetroubleinovercomingit;butshere-solvedwiselytosaynothingmorejustthen.
“I’llrundownandseeRachelaboutitthisevening,”shethought.
“There’snousereasoningwithAnnenow.
She’stooworkedupandI’veanideashecanbeawfulstubbornifshetakesthenotion.
FarasIcanmakeoutfromherstory,Mr.Phillipshasbeencarryingmatterswitharatherhighhand.Butitwouldneverdotosaysotoher.I’lljusttalkitoverwithRachel.
She’ssenttenchildrentoschoolandsheoughttoknowsomethingaboutit.
She’llhaveheardthewholestory,too,bythistime.”
MarillafoundMrs.Lyndeknittingquiltsasindustriouslyandcheerfullyasusual.
“IsupposeyouknowwhatI’vecomeabout,”shesaid,alittleshamefacedly.
Mrs.Rachelnodded.
“AboutAnne’sfussinschool,Ireckon,”shesaid.
“TillieBoulterwasinonherwayhomefromschoolandtoldmeaboutit.”
“Idon’tknowwhattodowithher,”saidMarilla.
“Shedeclaresshewon’tgobacktoschool.Ineversawachildsoworkedup.
I’vebeenexpectingtroubleeversinceshestartedtoschool.
Iknewthingsweregoingtoosmoothtolast.She’ssohighstrung.Whatwouldyouadvise,Rachel?”
“Well,sinceyou’veaskedmyadvice,Marilla,”saidMrs.Lyndeamiably—Mrs.Lyndedearlylovedtobeaskedforadvice—”I’djusthumorheralittleatfirst,that’swhatI’ddo.
It’smybeliefthatMr.Phillipswasinthewrong.
Ofcourse,itdoesn’tdotosaysotothechildren,youknow.
Andofcoursehedidrighttopunishheryesterdayforgivingwaytotemper.Buttodayitwasdifferent.
TheotherswhowerelateshouldhavebeenpunishedaswellasAnne,that’swhat.
AndIdon’tbelieveinmakingthegirlssitwiththeboysforpunishment.Itisn’tmodest.TillieBoulterwasrealindignant.
ShetookAnne’spartrightthroughandsaidallthescholarsdidtoo.
Anneseemsrealpopularamongthem,somehow.
Ineverthoughtshe’dtakewiththemsowell.”
“ThenyoureallythinkI’dbetterletherstayhome,”saidMarillainamazement.
“Yes.ThatisIwouldn’tsayschooltoheragainuntilshesaiditherself.
Dependuponit,Marilla,she’llcooloffinaweekorsoandbereadyenoughtogobackofherownaccord,that’swhat,while,ifyouweretomakehergobackrightoff,dearknowswhatfreakortantrumshe’dtakenextandmakemoretroublethanever.
Thelessfussmadethebetter,inmyopinion.
Shewon’tmissmuchbynotgoingtoschool,asfarasTHATgoes.
Mr.Phillipsisn’tanygoodatallasateacher.
Theorderhekeepsisscandalous,that’swhat,andheneglectstheyoungfryandputsallhistimeonthosebigscholarshe’sgettingreadyforQueen’s.
He’dneverhavegottheschoolforanotheryearifhisunclehadn’tbeenatrustee—THEtrustee,forhejustleadstheothertwoaroundbythenose,that’swhat.
Ideclare,Idon’tknowwhateducationinthisIslandiscomingto.”
Mrs.Rachelshookherhead,asmuchastosayifshewereonlyattheheadoftheeducationalsystemoftheProvincethingswouldbemuchbettermanaged.
MarillatookMrs.Rachel’sadviceandnotanotherwordwassaidtoAnneaboutgoingbacktoschool.
Shelearnedherlessonsathome,didherchores,andplayedwithDianainthechillypurpleautumntwilights;butwhenshemetGilbertBlytheontheroadorencounteredhiminSundayschoolshepassedhimbywithanicycontemptthatwasnowhitthawedbyhisevidentdesiretoappeaseher.
EvenDiana’seffortsasapeacemakerwereofnoavail.
AnnehadevidentlymadeuphermindtohateGilbertBlythetotheendoflife.
AsmuchasshehatedGilbert,however,didsheloveDiana,withalltheloveofherpassionatelittleheart,equallyintenseinitslikesanddislikes.
OneeveningMarilla,cominginfromtheorchardwithabasketofapples,foundAnnesittingalongbytheeastwindowinthetwilight,cryingbitterly.
“Whatever’sthematternow,Anne?”sheasked.
“It’saboutDiana,”sobbedAnneluxuriously.“IloveDianaso,Marilla.Icannoteverlivewithouther.
ButIknowverywellwhenwegrowupthatDianawillgetmarriedandgoawayandleaveme.Andoh,whatshallIdo?
Ihateherhusband—Ijusthatehimfuriously.
I’vebeenimaginingitallout—theweddingandeverything—Dianadressedinsnowygarments,withaveil,andlookingasbeautifulandregalasaqueen;andmethebridesmaid,withalovelydresstoo,andpuffedsleeves,butwithabreakinghearthidbeneathmysmilingface.
AndthenbiddingDianagoodbye-e-e—”HereAnnebrokedownentirelyandweptwithincreasingbitterness.
Marillaturnedquicklyawaytohidehertwitchingface;butitwasnouse;shecollapsedonthenearestchairandburstintosuchaheartyandunusualpealoflaughterthatMatthew,crossingtheyardoutside,haltedinamazement.
WhenhadheheardMarillalaughlikethatbefore?
“Well,AnneShirley,”saidMarillaassoonasshecouldspeak,“ifyoumustborrowtrouble,forpity’ssakeborrowithandierhome.Ishouldthinkyouhadanimagination,sureenough.”
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