English
AnnewasbringingthecowshomefromthebackpasturebywayofLover’sLane.
ItwasaSeptembereveningandallthegapsandclearingsinthewoodswerebrimmedupwithrubysunsetlight.
Hereandtherethelanewassplashedwithit,butforthemostpartitwasalreadyquiteshadowybeneaththemaples,andthespacesunderthefirswerefilledwithaclearvioletdusklikeairywine.
Thewindswereoutintheirtops,andthereisnosweetermusiconearththanthatwhichthewindmakesinthefirtreesatevening.
Thecowsswungplacidlydownthelane,andAnnefollowedthemdreamily,repeatingaloudthebattlecantofromMARMION—whichhadalsobeenpartoftheirEnglishcoursetheprecedingwinterandwhichMissStacyhadmadethemlearnoffbyheart—andexultinginitsrushinglinesandtheclashofspearsinitsimagery.Whenshecametothelines
"Thestubbornspearsmenstillmadegood
Theirdarkimpenetrablewood,"
shestoppedinecstasytoshuthereyesthatshemightthebetterfancyherselfoneofthatheroicring.
WhensheopenedthemagainitwastobeholdDianacomingthroughthegatethatledintotheBarryfieldandlookingsoimportantthatAnneinstantlydivinedtherewasnewstobetold.
Butbetraytooeagercuriosityshewouldnot.
“Isn’tthiseveningjustlikeapurpledream,Diana?Itmakesmesogladtobealive.InthemorningsIalwaysthinkthemorningsarebest;butwheneveningcomesIthinkit’slovelierstill.”
“It’saveryfineevening,”saidDiana,“butoh,Ihavesuchnews,Anne.Guess.Youcanhavethreeguesses.”
“CharlotteGillisisgoingtobemarriedinthechurchafterallandMrs.Allanwantsustodecorateit,”criedAnne.
“No.Charlotte’sbeauwon’tagreetothat,becausenobodyeverhasbeenmarriedinthechurchyet,andhethinksitwouldseemtoomuchlikeafuneral.
It’stoomean,becauseitwouldbesuchfun.Guessagain.”
“Jane’smotherisgoingtoletherhaveabirthdayparty?”
Dianashookherhead,herblackeyesdancingwithmerriment.
“Ican’tthinkwhatitcanbe,”saidAnneindespair,“unlessit’sthatMoodySpurgeonMacPhersonsawyouhomefromprayermeetinglastnight.Didhe?”
“Ishouldthinknot,”exclaimedDianaindignantly.
“Iwouldn’tbelikelytoboastofitifhedid,thehorridcreature!Iknewyoucouldn’tguessit.
MotherhadaletterfromAuntJosephinetoday,andAuntJosephinewantsyouandmetogototownnextTuesdayandstopwithherfortheExhibition.There!”
“Oh,Diana,”whisperedAnne,findingitnecessarytoleanupagainstamapletreeforsupport,“doyoureallymeanit?ButI’mafraidMarillawon’tletmego.
Shewillsaythatshecan’tencouragegaddingabout.
ThatwaswhatshesaidlastweekwhenJaneinvitedmetogowiththemintheirdouble-seatedbuggytotheAmericanconcertattheWhiteSandsHotel.
Iwantedtogo,butMarillasaidI’dbebetterathomelearningmylessonsandsowouldJane.Iwasbitterlydisappointed,Diana.
IfeltsoheartbrokenthatIwouldn’tsaymyprayerswhenIwenttobed.
ButIrepentedofthatandgotupinthemiddleofthenightandsaidthem.”
“I’lltellyou,”saidDiana,“we’llgetMothertoaskMarilla.
She’llbemorelikelytoletyougothen;andifshedoeswe’llhavethetimeofourlives,Anne.
I’veneverbeentoanExhibition,andit’ssoaggravatingtoheartheothergirlstalkingabouttheirtrips.
JaneandRubyhavebeentwice,andthey’regoingthisyearagain.”
“I’mnotgoingtothinkaboutitatalluntilIknowwhetherIcangoornot,”saidAnneresolutely.
“IfIdidandthenwasdisappointed,itwouldbemorethanIcouldbear.
ButincaseIdogoI’mverygladmynewcoatwillbereadybythattime.
Marilladidn’tthinkIneededanewcoat.
ShesaidmyoldonewoulddoverywellforanotherwinterandthatIoughttobesatisfiedwithhavinganewdress.
Thedressisverypretty,Diana—navyblueandmadesofashionably.
Marillaalwaysmakesmydressesfashionablynow,becauseshesaysshedoesn’tintendtohaveMatthewgoingtoMrs.Lyndetomakethem.I’msoglad.
Itiseversomucheasiertobegoodifyourclothesarefashionable.Atleast,itiseasierforme.
Isupposeitdoesn’tmakesuchadifferencetonaturallygoodpeople.
ButMatthewsaidImusthaveanewcoat,soMarillaboughtalovelypieceofbluebroadcloth,andit’sbeingmadebyarealdressmakeroveratCarmody.
It’stobedoneSaturdaynight,andI’mtryingnottoimaginemyselfwalkingupthechurchaisleonSundayinmynewsuitandcap,becauseI’mafraiditisn’trighttoimaginesuchthings.
Butitjustslipsintomymindinspiteofme.Mycapissopretty.
MatthewboughtitformethedaywewereoveratCarmody.
Itisoneofthoselittlebluevelvetonesthatarealltherage,withgoldcordandtassels.
Yournewhatiselegant,Diana,andsobecoming.
WhenIsawyoucomeintochurchlastSundaymyheartswelledwithpridetothinkyouweremydearestfriend.
Doyousupposeit’swrongforustothinksomuchaboutourclothes?Marillasaysitisverysinful.
Butitissuchaninterestingsubject,isn’tit?”
MarillaagreedtoletAnnegototown,anditwasarrangedthatMr.BarryshouldtakethegirlsinonthefollowingTuesday.
AsCharlottetownwasthirtymilesawayandMr.Barrywishedtogoandreturnthesameday,itwasnecessarytomakeaveryearlystart.
ButAnnecounteditalljoy,andwasupbeforesunriseonTuesdaymorning.
Aglancefromherwindowassuredherthatthedaywouldbefine,fortheeasternskybehindthefirsoftheHauntedWoodwasallsilveryandcloudless.
ThroughthegapinthetreesalightwasshininginthewesterngableofOrchardSlope,atokenthatDianawasalsoup.
AnnewasdressedbythetimeMatthewhadthefireonandhadthebreakfastreadywhenMarillacamedown,butforherownpartwasmuchtooexcitedtoeat.
Afterbreakfastthejauntynewcapandjacketweredonned,andAnnehastenedoverthebrookandupthroughthefirstoOrchardSlope.
Mr.BarryandDianawerewaitingforher,andtheyweresoonontheroad.
Itwasalongdrive,butAnneandDianaenjoyedeveryminuteofit.
Itwasdelightfultorattlealongoverthemoistroadsintheearlyredsunlightthatwascreepingacrosstheshornharvestfields.
Theairwasfreshandcrisp,andlittlesmoke-bluemistscurledthroughthevalleysandfloatedofffromthehills.
Sometimestheroadwentthroughwoodswheremapleswerebeginningtohangoutscarletbanners;sometimesitcrossedriversonbridgesthatmadeAnne’sfleshcringewiththeold,half-delightfulfear;sometimesitwoundalongaharborshoreandpassedbyalittleclusterofweather-grayfishinghuts;againitmountedtohillswhenceafarsweepofcurvinguplandormisty-blueskycouldbeseen;butwhereveritwenttherewasmuchofinteresttodiscuss.
Itwasalmostnoonwhentheyreachedtownandfoundtheirwayto“Beechwood.”
Itwasquiteafineoldmansion,setbackfromthestreetinaseclusionofgreenelmsandbranchingbeeches.
MissBarrymetthematthedoorwithatwinkleinhersharpblackeyes.
“Soyou’vecometoseemeatlast,youAnne-girl,”shesaid.“Mercy,child,howyouhavegrown!You’retallerthanIam,Ideclare.
Andyou’reeversomuchbetterlookingthanyouusedtobe,too.
ButIdaresayyouknowthatwithoutbeingtold.”
“IndeedIdidn’t,”saidAnneradiantly.“IknowI’mnotsofreckledasIusedtobe,soI’vemuchtobethankfulfor,butIreallyhadn’tdaredtohopetherewasanyotherimprovement.
I’msogladyouthinkthereis,MissBarry.”
MissBarry’shousewasfurnishedwith“greatmagnificence,”asAnnetoldMarillaafterward.
ThetwolittlecountrygirlswereratherabashedbythesplendoroftheparlorwhereMissBarryleftthemwhenshewenttoseeaboutdinner.
“Isn’titjustlikeapalace?”whisperedDiana.
“IneverwasinAuntJosephine’shousebefore,andI’dnoideaitwassogrand.
IjustwishJuliaBellcouldseethis—sheputsonsuchairsabouthermother’sparlor.”
“Velvetcarpet,”sighedAnneluxuriously,“andsilkcurtains!I’vedreamedofsuchthings,Diana.
ButdoyouknowIdon’tbelieveIfeelverycomfortablewiththemafterall.
Therearesomanythingsinthisroomandallsosplendidthatthereisnoscopeforimagination.
Thatisoneconsolationwhenyouarepoor—therearesomanymorethingsyoucanimagineabout.”
TheirsojournintownwassomethingthatAnneandDianadatedfromforyears.Fromfirsttolastitwascrowdedwithdelights.
OnWednesdayMissBarrytookthemtotheExhibitiongroundsandkeptthemthereallday.
“Itwassplendid,”AnnerelatedtoMarillalateron.
“Ineverimaginedanythingsointeresting.
Idon’treallyknowwhichdepartmentwasthemostinteresting.
IthinkIlikedthehorsesandtheflowersandthefancyworkbest.
JosiePyetookfirstprizeforknittedlace.Iwasrealgladshedid.
AndIwasgladthatIfeltglad,foritshowsI’mimproving,don’tyouthink,Marilla,whenIcanrejoiceinJosie’ssuccess?
Mr.HarmonAndrewstooksecondprizeforGravensteinapplesandMr.Belltookfirstprizeforapig.
DianasaidshethoughtitwasridiculousforaSunday-schoolsuperintendenttotakeaprizeinpigs,butIdon’tseewhy.Doyou?
Shesaidshewouldalwaysthinkofitafterthiswhenhewasprayingsosolemnly.
ClaraLouiseMacPhersontookaprizeforpainting,andMrs.Lyndegotfirstprizeforhomemadebutterandcheese.
SoAvonleawasprettywellrepresented,wasn’tit?
Mrs.Lyndewastherethatday,andIneverknewhowmuchIreallylikedheruntilIsawherfamiliarfaceamongallthosestrangers.
Therewerethousandsofpeoplethere,Marilla.
Itmademefeeldreadfullyinsignificant.
AndMissBarrytookusuptothegrandstandtoseethehorseraces.
Mrs.Lyndewouldn’tgo;shesaidhorseracingwasanabominationand,shebeingachurchmember,thoughtitherboundendutytosetagoodexamplebystayingaway.
ButthereweresomanythereIdon’tbelieveMrs.Lynde’sabsencewouldeverbenoticed.
Idon’tthink,though,thatIoughttogoveryoftentohorseraces,becausetheyAREawfullyfascinating.
Dianagotsoexcitedthatsheofferedtobetmetencentsthattheredhorsewouldwin.
Ididn’tbelievehewould,butIrefusedtobet,becauseIwantedtotellMrs.Allanallabouteverything,andIfeltsureitwouldn’tdototellherthat.
It’salwayswrongtodoanythingyoucan’ttelltheminister’swife.
It’sasgoodasanextraconsciencetohaveaminister’swifeforyourfriend.
AndIwasverygladIdidn’tbet,becausetheredhorseDIDwin,andIwouldhavelosttencents.
Soyouseethatvirtuewasitsownreward.Wesawamangoupinaballoon.
I’dlovetogoupinaballoon,Marilla;itwouldbesimplythrilling;andwesawamansellingfortunes.
Youpaidhimtencentsandalittlebirdpickedoutyourfortuneforyou.
MissBarrygaveDianaandmetencentseachtohaveourfortunestold.
MinewasthatIwouldmarryadark-complectedmanwhowasverywealthy,andIwouldgoacrosswatertolive.
IlookedcarefullyatallthedarkmenIsawafterthat,butIdidn’tcaremuchforanyofthem,andanyhowIsupposeit’stooearlytobelookingoutforhimyet.
Oh,itwasanever-to-be-forgottenday,Marilla.
IwassotiredIcouldn’tsleepatnight.
MissBarryputusinthespareroom,accordingtopromise.
Itwasanelegantroom,Marilla,butsomehowsleepinginaspareroomisn’twhatIusedtothinkitwas.
That’stheworstofgrowingup,andI’mbeginningtorealizeit.
Thethingsyouwantedsomuchwhenyouwereachilddon’tseemhalfsowonderfultoyouwhenyougetthem.”
Thursdaythegirlshadadriveinthepark,andintheeveningMissBarrytookthemtoaconcertintheAcademyofMusic,whereanotedprimadonnawastosing.
ToAnnetheeveningwasaglitteringvisionofdelight.
“Oh,Marilla,itwasbeyonddescription.
IwassoexcitedIcouldn’teventalk,soyoumayknowwhatitwaslike.Ijustsatinenrapturedsilence.
MadameSelitskywasperfectlybeautiful,andworewhitesatinanddiamonds.
ButwhenshebegantosingIneverthoughtaboutanythingelse.Oh,Ican’ttellyouhowIfelt.
Butitseemedtomethatitcouldneverbehardtobegoodanymore.
IfeltlikeIdowhenIlookuptothestars.
Tearscameintomyeyes,but,oh,theyweresuchhappytears.
Iwassosorrywhenitwasallover,andItoldMissBarryIdidn’tseehowIwasevertoreturntocommonlifeagain.
Shesaidshethoughtifwewentovertotherestaurantacrossthestreetandhadanicecreamitmighthelpme.
Thatsoundedsoprosaic;buttomysurpriseIfoundittrue.
Theicecreamwasdelicious,Marilla,anditwassolovelyanddissipatedtobesittingthereeatingitateleveno’clockatnight.
Dianasaidshebelievedshewasbornforcitylife.
MissBarryaskedmewhatmyopinionwas,butIsaidIwouldhavetothinkitoververyseriouslybeforeIcouldtellherwhatIreallythought.
SoIthoughtitoverafterIwenttobed.
Thatisthebesttimetothinkthingsout.
AndIcametotheconclusion,Marilla,thatIwasn’tbornforcitylifeandthatIwasgladofit.
It’snicetobeeatingicecreamatbrilliantrestaurantsateleveno’clockatnightonceinawhile;butasaregularthingI’dratherbeintheeastgableateleven,soundasleep,butkindofknowingeveninmysleepthatthestarswereshiningoutsideandthatthewindwasblowinginthefirsacrossthebrook.
ItoldMissBarrysoatbreakfastthenextmorningandshelaughed.
MissBarrygenerallylaughedatanythingIsaid,evenwhenIsaidthemostsolemnthings.
Idon’tthinkIlikedit,Marilla,becauseIwasn’ttryingtobefunny.
Butsheisamosthospitableladyandtreatedusroyally.”
Fridaybroughtgoing-hometime,andMr.Barrydroveinforthegirls.
“Well,Ihopeyou’veenjoyedyourselves,”saidMissBarry,asshebadethemgood-bye.
“Indeedwehave,”saidDiana.
“Andyou,Anne-girl?”
“I’veenjoyedeveryminuteofthetime,”saidAnne,throwingherarmsimpulsivelyabouttheoldwoman’sneckandkissingherwrinkledcheek.
DianawouldneverhavedaredtodosuchathingandfeltratheraghastatAnne’sfreedom.
ButMissBarrywaspleased,andshestoodonherverandaandwatchedthebuggyoutofsight.
Thenshewentbackintoherbighousewithasigh.
Itseemedverylonely,lackingthosefreshyounglives.
MissBarrywasaratherselfisholdlady,ifthetruthmustbetold,andhadnevercaredmuchforanybodybutherself.
Shevaluedpeopleonlyastheywereofservicetoheroramusedher.
Annehadamusedher,andconsequentlystoodhighintheoldlady’sgoodgraces.
ButMissBarryfoundherselfthinkinglessaboutAnne’squaintspeechesthanofherfreshenthusiasms,hertransparentemotions,herlittlewinningways,andthesweetnessofhereyesandlips.
“IthoughtMarillaCuthbertwasanoldfoolwhenIheardshe’dadoptedagirloutofanorphanasylum,”shesaidtoherself,“butIguessshedidn’tmakemuchofamistakeafterall.
IfI’dachildlikeAnneinthehouseallthetimeI’dbeabetterandhappierwoman.”
AnneandDianafoundthedrivehomeaspleasantasthedrivein—pleasanter,indeed,sincetherewasthedelightfulconsciousnessofhomewaitingattheendofit.
ItwassunsetwhentheypassedthroughWhiteSandsandturnedintotheshoreroad.
Beyond,theAvonleahillscameoutdarklyagainstthesaffronsky.
Behindthemthemoonwasrisingoutoftheseathatgrewallradiantandtransfiguredinherlight.
Everylittlecovealongthecurvingroadwasamarvelofdancingripples.
Thewavesbrokewithasoftswishontherocksbelowthem,andthetangoftheseawasinthestrong,freshair.
“Oh,butit’sgoodtobealiveandtobegoinghome,”breathedAnne.
WhenshecrossedthelogbridgeoverthebrookthekitchenlightofGreenGableswinkedherafriendlywelcomeback,andthroughtheopendoorshonethehearthfire,sendingoutitswarmredglowathwartthechillyautumnnight.
Anneranblithelyupthehillandintothekitchen,whereahotsupperwaswaitingonthetable.
“Soyou’vegotback?”saidMarilla,foldingupherknitting.
“Yes,andoh,it’ssogoodtobeback,”saidAnnejoyously.“Icouldkisseverything,eventotheclock.Marilla,abroiledchicken!Youdon’tmeantosayyoucookedthatforme!”
“Yes,Idid,”saidMarilla.“Ithoughtyou’dbehungryaftersuchadriveandneedsomethingrealappetizing.
Hurryandtakeoffyourthings,andwe’llhavesupperassoonasMatthewcomesin.I’mgladyou’vegotback,Imustsay.
It’sbeenfearfullonesomeherewithoutyou,andIneverputinfourlongerdays.”
AftersupperAnnesatbeforethefirebetweenMatthewandMarilla,andgavethemafullaccountofhervisit.
“I’vehadasplendidtime,”sheconcludedhappily,“andIfeelthatitmarksanepochinmylife.Butthebestofitallwasthecominghome.”
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