English
WiththeendofJunecamethecloseofthetermandthecloseofMissStacy’sruleinAvonleaschool.
AnneandDianawalkedhomethateveningfeelingverysoberindeed.
RedeyesanddamphandkerchiefsboreconvincingtestimonytothefactthatMissStacy’sfarewellwordsmusthavebeenquiteastouchingasMr.Phillips’shadbeenundersimilarcircumstancesthreeyearsbefore.
Dianalookedbackattheschoolhousefromthefootofthesprucehillandsigheddeeply.
“Itdoesseemasifitwastheendofeverything,doesn’tit?”shesaiddismally.
“Yououghtn’ttofeelhalfasbadlyasIdo,”saidAnne,huntingvainlyforadryspotonherhandkerchief.
“You’llbebackagainnextwinter,butIsupposeI’veleftthedearoldschoolforever—ifIhavegoodluck,thatis.”
“Itwon’tbeabitthesame.MissStacywon’tbethere,noryounorJanenorRubyprobably.
Ishallhavetositallalone,forIcouldn’tbeartohaveanotherdeskmateafteryou.
Oh,wehavehadjollytimes,haven’twe,Anne?
It’sdreadfultothinkthey’reallover.”
TwobigtearsrolleddownbyDiana’snose.
“IfyouwouldstopcryingIcould,”saidAnneimploringly.
“JustassoonasIputawaymyhankyIseeyoubrimmingupandthatstartsmeoffagain.
AsMrs.Lyndesays,‘Ifyoucan’tbecheerful,beascheerfulasyoucan.’
Afterall,IdaresayI’llbebacknextyear.
ThisisoneofthetimesIKNOWI’mnotgoingtopass.They’regettingalarminglyfrequent.”
“Why,youcameoutsplendidlyintheexamsMissStacygave.”
“Yes,butthoseexamsdidn’tmakemenervous.
WhenIthinkoftherealthingyoucan’timaginewhatahorridcoldflutteryfeelingcomesroundmyheart.
AndthenmynumberisthirteenandJosiePyesaysit’ssounlucky.
IamNOTsuperstitiousandIknowitcanmakenodifference.ButstillIwishitwasn’tthirteen.”
“IdowishIwasgoinginwithyou,”saidDiana.“Wouldn’twehaveaperfectlyeleganttime?ButIsupposeyou’llhavetocramintheevenings.”
“No;MissStacyhasmadeuspromisenottoopenabookatall.
Shesaysitwouldonlytireandconfuseusandwearetogooutwalkingandnotthinkabouttheexamsatallandgotobedearly.
It’sgoodadvice,butIexpectitwillbehardtofollow;goodadviceisapttobe,Ithink.
PrissyAndrewstoldmethatshesatuphalfthenighteverynightofherEntranceweekandcrammedfordearlife;andIhaddeterminedtositupATLEASTaslongasshedid.
ItwassokindofyourAuntJosephinetoaskmetostayatBeechwoodwhileI’mintown.”
“You’llwritetomewhileyou’rein,won’tyou?”
“I’llwriteTuesdaynightandtellyouhowthefirstdaygoes,”promisedAnne.
“I’llbehauntingthepostofficeWednesday,”vowedDiana.
AnnewenttotownthefollowingMondayandonWednesdayDianahauntedthepostoffice,asagreed,andgotherletter.
“DearestDiana”[wroteAnne],
“HereitisTuesdaynightandI’mwritingthisinthelibraryatBeechwood.
LastnightIwashorriblylonesomeallaloneinmyroomandwishedsomuchyouwerewithme.
Icouldn’t“cram”becauseI’dpromisedMissStacynotto,butitwasashardtokeepfromopeningmyhistoryasitusedtobetokeepfromreadingastorybeforemylessonswerelearned.
“ThismorningMissStacycameformeandwewenttotheAcademy,callingforJaneandRubyandJosieonourway.
Rubyaskedmetofeelherhandsandtheywereascoldasice.
JosiesaidIlookedasifIhadn’tsleptawinkandshedidn’tbelieveIwasstrongenoughtostandthegrindoftheteacher’scourseevenifIdidgetthrough.
TherearetimesandseasonsevenyetwhenIdon’tfeelthatI’vemadeanygreatheadwayinlearningtolikeJosiePye!
“WhenwereachedtheAcademytherewerescoresofstudentstherefromallovertheIsland.
ThefirstpersonwesawwasMoodySpurgeonsittingonthestepsandmutteringawaytohimself.
Janeaskedhimwhatonearthhewasdoingandhesaidhewasrepeatingthemultiplicationtableoverandovertosteadyhisnervesandforpity’ssakenottointerrupthim,becauseifhestoppedforamomenthegotfrightenedandforgoteverythingheeverknew,butthemultiplicationtablekeptallhisfactsfirmlyintheirproperplace!
“WhenwewereassignedtoourroomsMissStacyhadtoleaveus.
JaneandIsattogetherandJanewassocomposedthatIenviedher.
Noneedofthemultiplicationtableforgood,steady,sensibleJane!
IwonderedifIlookedasIfeltandiftheycouldhearmyheartthumpingclearacrosstheroom.
ThenamancameinandbegandistributingtheEnglishexaminationsheets.
MyhandsgrewcoldthenandmyheadfairlywhirledaroundasIpickeditup.
Justoneawfulmoment—Diana,IfeltexactlyasIdidfouryearsagowhenIaskedMarillaifImightstayatGreenGables—andtheneverythingclearedupinmymindandmyheartbeganbeatingagain—Iforgottosaythatithadstoppedaltogether!
—forIknewIcoulddosomethingwithTHATpaperanyhow.
“Atnoonwewenthomefordinnerandthenbackagainforhistoryintheafternoon.
ThehistorywasaprettyhardpaperandIgotdreadfullymixedupinthedates.Still,IthinkIdidfairlywelltoday.
Butoh,Diana,tomorrowthegeometryexamcomesoffandwhenIthinkofitittakeseverybitofdeterminationIpossesstokeepfromopeningmyEuclid.
IfIthoughtthemultiplicationtablewouldhelpmeanyIwouldreciteitfromnowtilltomorrowmorning.
“Iwentdowntoseetheothergirlsthisevening.
OnmywayImetMoodySpurgeonwanderingdistractedlyaround.
Hesaidheknewhehadfailedinhistoryandhewasborntobeadisappointmenttohisparentsandhewasgoinghomeonthemorningtrain;anditwouldbeeasiertobeacarpenterthanaminister,anyhow.
IcheeredhimupandpersuadedhimtostaytotheendbecauseitwouldbeunfairtoMissStacyifhedidn’t.
SometimesIhavewishedIwasbornaboy,butwhenIseeMoodySpurgeonI’malwaysgladI’magirlandnothissister.
“RubywasinhystericswhenIreachedtheirboardinghouse;shehadjustdiscoveredafearfulmistakeshehadmadeinherEnglishpaper.
Whensherecoveredwewentuptownandhadanicecream.Howwewishedyouhadbeenwithus.
“Oh,Diana,ifonlythegeometryexaminationwereover!
Butthere,asMrs.Lyndewouldsay,thesunwillgoonrisingandsettingwhetherIfailingeometryornot.
Thatistruebutnotespeciallycomforting.
IthinkI’dratheritdidn’tgoonifIfailed!
“Yoursdevotedly,
“Anne”
ThegeometryexaminationandalltheotherswereoverinduetimeandAnnearrivedhomeonFridayevening,rathertiredbutwithanairofchastenedtriumphabouther.
DianawasoveratGreenGableswhenshearrivedandtheymetasiftheyhadbeenpartedforyears.
“Youolddarling,it’sperfectlysplendidtoseeyoubackagain.Itseemslikeanagesinceyouwenttotownandoh,Anne,howdidyougetalong?”
“Prettywell,Ithink,ineverythingbutthegeometry.
Idon’tknowwhetherIpassedinitornotandIhaveacreepy,crawlypresentimentthatIdidn’t.Oh,howgooditistobeback!
GreenGablesisthedearest,loveliestspotintheworld.”
“Howdidtheothersdo?”
“Thegirlssaytheyknowtheydidn’tpass,butIthinktheydidprettywell.
Josiesaysthegeometrywassoeasyachildoftencoulddoit!
MoodySpurgeonstillthinkshefailedinhistoryandCharliesayshefailedinalgebra.
Butwedon’treallyknowanythingaboutitandwon’tuntilthepasslistisout.Thatwon’tbeforafortnight.
Fancylivingafortnightinsuchsuspense!
IwishIcouldgotosleepandneverwakeupuntilitisover.”
DianaknewitwouldbeuselesstoaskhowGilbertBlythehadfared,soshemerelysaid:
“Oh,you’llpassallright.Don’tworry.”
“I’drathernotpassatallthannotcomeoutprettywelluponthelist,”flashedAnne,bywhichshemeant—andDianaknewshemeant—thatsuccesswouldbeincompleteandbitterifshedidnotcomeoutaheadofGilbertBlythe.
WiththisendinviewAnnehadstrainedeverynerveduringtheexaminations.SohadGilbert.
TheyhadmetandpassedeachotheronthestreetadozentimeswithoutanysignofrecognitionandeverytimeAnnehadheldherheadalittlehigherandwishedalittlemoreearnestlythatshehadmadefriendswithGilbertwhenheaskedher,andvowedalittlemoredeterminedlytosurpasshimintheexamination.
SheknewthatallAvonleajuniorwaswonderingwhichwouldcomeoutfirst;sheevenknewthatJimmyGloverandNedWrighthadabetonthequestionandthatJosiePyehadsaidtherewasnodoubtintheworldthatGilbertwouldbefirst;andshefeltthatherhumiliationwouldbeunbearableifshefailed.
Butshehadanotherandnoblermotiveforwishingtodowell.
Shewantedto“passhigh”forthesakeofMatthewandMarilla—especiallyMatthew.
Matthewhaddeclaredtoherhisconvictionthatshe“wouldbeatthewholeIsland.”
That,Annefelt,wassomethingitwouldbefoolishtohopeforeveninthewildestdreams.
Butshedidhopeferventlythatshewouldbeamongthefirsttenatleast,sothatshemightseeMatthew’skindlybrowneyesgleamwithprideinherachievement.
That,shefelt,wouldbeasweetrewardindeedforallherhardworkandpatientgrubbingamongunimaginativeequationsandconjugations.
AttheendofthefortnightAnnetookto“haunting”thepostofficealso,inthedistractedcompanyofJane,Ruby,andJosie,openingtheCharlottetowndailieswithshakinghandsandcold,sinkawayfeelingsasbadasanyexperiencedduringtheEntranceweek.
CharlieandGilbertwerenotabovedoingthistoo,butMoodySpurgeonstayedresolutelyaway.
“Ihaven’tgotthegrittogothereandlookatapaperincoldblood,”hetoldAnne.“I’mjustgoingtowaituntilsomebodycomesandtellsmesuddenlywhetherI’vepassedornot.”
WhenthreeweekshadgonebywithoutthepasslistappearingAnnebegantofeelthatshereallycouldn’tstandthestrainmuchlonger.
HerappetitefailedandherinterestinAvonleadoingslanguished.
Mrs.LyndewantedtoknowwhatelseyoucouldexpectwithaTorysuperintendentofeducationattheheadofaffairs,andMatthew,notingAnne’spalenessandindifferenceandthelaggingstepsthatboreherhomefromthepostofficeeveryafternoon,beganseriouslytowonderifhehadn’tbettervoteGritatthenextelection.
Butoneeveningthenewscame.Annewassittingatheropenwindow,forthetimeforgetfulofthewoesofexaminationsandthecaresoftheworld,asshedrankinthebeautyofthesummerdusk,sweet-scentedwithflowerbreathsfromthegardenbelowandsibilantandrustlingfromthestirofpoplars.
Theeasternskyabovethefirswasflushedfaintlypinkfromthereflectionofthewest,andAnnewaswonderingdreamilyifthespiritofcolorlookedlikethat,whenshesawDianacomeflyingdownthroughthefirs,overthelogbridge,anduptheslope,withaflutteringnewspaperinherhand.
Annesprangtoherfeet,knowingatoncewhatthatpapercontained.Thepasslistwasout!
Herheadwhirledandherheartbeatuntilithurther.Shecouldnotmoveastep.
ItseemedanhourtoherbeforeDianacamerushingalongthehallandburstintotheroomwithoutevenknocking,sogreatwasherexcitement.
“Anne,you’vepassed,”shecried,“passedtheVERYFIRST—youandGilbertboth—you’reties—butyournameisfirst.Oh,I’msoproud!”
DianaflungthepaperonthetableandherselfonAnne’sbed,utterlybreathlessandincapableoffurtherspeech.
Annelightedthelamp,oversettingthematchsafeandusinguphalfadozenmatchesbeforehershakinghandscouldaccomplishthetask.Thenshesnatchedupthepaper.
Yes,shehadpassed—therewashernameattheverytopofalistoftwohundred!Thatmomentwasworthlivingfor.
“Youdidjustsplendidly,Anne,”puffedDiana,recoveringsufficientlytositupandspeak,forAnne,starryeyedandrapt,hadnotutteredaword.
“FatherbroughtthepaperhomefromBrightRivernottenminutesago—itcameoutontheafternoontrain,youknow,andwon’tbeheretilltomorrowbymail—andwhenIsawthepasslistIjustrushedoverlikeawildthing.
You’veallpassed,everyoneofyou,MoodySpurgeonandall,althoughhe’sconditionedinhistory.
JaneandRubydidprettywell—they’rehalfwayup—andsodidCharlie.
Josiejustscrapedthroughwiththreemarkstospare,butyou’llseeshe’llputonasmanyairsasifshe’dled.Won’tMissStacybedelighted?
Oh,Anne,whatdoesitfeelliketoseeyournameattheheadofapasslistlikethat?
IfitweremeIknowI’dgocrazywithjoy.
Iamprettynearcrazyasitis,butyou’reascalmandcoolasaspringevening.”
“I’mjustdazzledinside,”saidAnne.“Iwanttosayahundredthings,andIcan’tfindwordstosaythemin.
Ineverdreamedofthis—yes,Ididtoo,justonce!
IletmyselfthinkONCE,‘WhatifIshouldcomeoutfirst?’
quakingly,youknow,foritseemedsovainandpresumptuoustothinkIcouldleadtheIsland.Excusemeaminute,Diana.
ImustrunrightouttothefieldtotellMatthew.
Thenwe’llgouptheroadandtellthegoodnewstotheothers.”
TheyhurriedtothehayfieldbelowthebarnwhereMatthewwascoilinghay,and,asluckwouldhaveit,Mrs.LyndewastalkingtoMarillaatthelanefence.
“Oh,Matthew,”exclaimedAnne,“I’vepassedandI’mfirst—oroneofthefirst!I’mnotvain,butI’mthankful.”
“Wellnow,Ialwayssaidit,”saidMatthew,gazingatthepasslistdelightedly.“Iknewyoucouldbeatthemalleasy.”
“You’vedoneprettywell,Imustsay,Anne,”saidMarilla,tryingtohideherextremeprideinAnnefromMrs.Rachel’scriticaleye.Butthatgoodsoulsaidheartily:
“Ijustguessshehasdonewell,andfarbeitfrommetobebackwardinsayingit.You’reacredittoyourfriends,Anne,that’swhat,andwe’reallproudofyou.”
ThatnightAnne,whohadwoundupthedelightfuleveningwithaseriouslittletalkwithMrs.Allanatthemanse,kneltsweetlybyheropenwindowinagreatsheenofmoonshineandmurmuredaprayerofgratitudeandaspirationthatcamestraightfromherheart.
Therewasinitthankfulnessforthepastandreverentpetitionforthefuture;andwhenshesleptonherwhitepillowherdreamswereasfairandbrightandbeautifulasmaidenhoodmightdesire.
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