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ThenextthreeweekswerebusyonesatGreenGables,forAnnewasgettingreadytogotoQueen’s,andtherewasmuchsewingtobedone,andmanythingstobetalkedoverandarranged.
Anne’soutfitwasampleandpretty,forMatthewsawtothat,andMarillaforoncemadenoobjectionswhatevertoanythinghepurchasedorsuggested.
More—oneeveningshewentuptotheeastgablewithherarmsfullofadelicatepalegreenmaterial.
“Anne,here’ssomethingforanicelightdressforyou.
Idon’tsupposeyoureallyneedit;you’veplentyofprettywaists;butIthoughtmaybeyou’dlikesomethingrealdressytowearifyouwereaskedoutanywhereofaneveningintown,toapartyoranythinglikethat.
IhearthatJaneandRubyandJosiehavegot‘eveningdresses,’astheycallthem,andIdon’tmeanyoushallbebehindthem.
IgotMrs.Allantohelpmepickitintownlastweek,andwe’llgetEmilyGillistomakeitforyou.
Emilyhasgottaste,andherfitsaren’ttobeequaled.”
“Oh,Marilla,it’sjustlovely,”saidAnne.“Thankyousomuch.Idon’tbelieveyououghttobesokindtome—it’smakingithardereverydayformetogoaway.”
ThegreendresswasmadeupwithasmanytucksandfrillsandshirringsasEmily’stastepermitted.
AnneputitononeeveningforMatthew’sandMarilla’sbenefit,andrecited“TheMaiden’sVow”fortheminthekitchen.
AsMarillawatchedthebright,animatedfaceandgracefulmotionsherthoughtswentbacktotheeveningAnnehadarrivedatGreenGables,andmemoryrecalledavividpictureoftheodd,frightenedchildinherpreposterousyellowish-brownwinceydress,theheartbreaklookingoutofhertearfuleyes.
SomethinginthememorybroughttearstoMarilla’sowneyes.
“Ideclare,myrecitationhasmadeyoucry,Marilla,”saidAnnegailystoopingoverMarilla’schairtodropabutterflykissonthatlady’scheek.“Now,Icallthatapositivetriumph.”
“No,Iwasn’tcryingoveryourpiece,”saidMarilla,whowouldhavescornedtobebetrayedintosuchweaknessbyanypoetrystuff.
“Ijustcouldn’thelpthinkingofthelittlegirlyouusedtobe,Anne.
AndIwaswishingyoucouldhavestayedalittlegirl,evenwithallyourqueerways.
You’vegrownupnowandyou’regoingaway;andyoulooksotallandstylishandso—so—differentaltogetherinthatdress—asifyoudidn’tbelonginAvonleaatall—andIjustgotlonesomethinkingitallover.”
“Marilla!”AnnesatdownonMarilla’sginghamlap,tookMarilla’slinedfacebetweenherhands,andlookedgravelyandtenderlyintoMarilla’seyes.“I’mnotabitchanged—notreally.
I’monlyjustpruneddownandbranchedout.TherealME—backhere—isjustthesame.
Itwon’tmakeabitofdifferencewhereIgoorhowmuchIchangeoutwardly;atheartIshallalwaysbeyourlittleAnne,whowillloveyouandMatthewanddearGreenGablesmoreandbettereverydayofherlife.”
AnnelaidherfreshyoungcheekagainstMarilla’sfadedone,andreachedoutahandtopatMatthew’sshoulder.
MarillawouldhavegivenmuchjustthentohavepossessedAnne’spowerofputtingherfeelingsintowords;butnatureandhabithadwilleditotherwise,andshecouldonlyputherarmscloseabouthergirlandholdhertenderlytoherheart,wishingthatsheneedneverlethergo.
Matthew,withasuspiciousmoistureinhiseyes,gotupandwentout-of-doors.Underthestarsofthebluesummernighthewalkedagitatedlyacrosstheyardtothegateunderthepoplars.
“Wellnow,Iguesssheain’tbeenmuchspoiled,”hemuttered,proudly.
“Iguessmyputtinginmyoaroccasionalneverdidmuchharmafterall.
She’ssmartandpretty,andloving,too,whichisbetterthanalltherest.
She’sbeenablessingtous,andthereneverwasaluckiermistakethanwhatMrs.Spencermade—ifitWASluck.Idon’tbelieveitwasanysuchthing.
ItwasProvidence,becausetheAlmightysawweneededher,Ireckon.”
ThedayfinallycamewhenAnnemustgototown.
SheandMatthewdroveinonefineSeptembermorning,afteratearfulpartingwithDianaandanuntearfulpracticalone—onMarilla’ssideatleast—withMarilla.
ButwhenAnnehadgoneDianadriedhertearsandwenttoabeachpicnicatWhiteSandswithsomeofherCarmodycousins,whereshecontrivedtoenjoyherselftolerablywell;whileMarillaplungedfiercelyintounnecessaryworkandkeptatitalldaylongwiththebitterestkindofheartache—theachethatburnsandgnawsandcannotwashitselfawayinreadytears.
Butthatnight,whenMarillawenttobed,acutelyandmiserablyconsciousthatthelittlegableroomattheendofthehallwasuntenantedbyanyvividyounglifeandunstirredbyanysoftbreathing,sheburiedherfaceinherpillow,andweptforhergirlinapassionofsobsthatappalledherwhenshegrewcalmenoughtoreflecthowverywickeditmustbetotakeonsoaboutasinfulfellowcreature.
AnneandtherestoftheAvonleascholarsreachedtownjustintimetohurryofftotheAcademy.
Thatfirstdaypassedpleasantlyenoughinawhirlofexcitement,meetingallthenewstudents,learningtoknowtheprofessorsbysightandbeingassortedandorganizedintoclasses.
AnneintendedtakinguptheSecondYearworkbeingadvisedtodosobyMissStacy;GilbertBlytheelectedtodothesame.
ThismeantgettingaFirstClassteacher’slicenseinoneyearinsteadoftwo,iftheyweresuccessful;butitalsomeantmuchmoreandharderwork.
Jane,Ruby,Josie,Charlie,andMoodySpurgeon,notbeingtroubledwiththestirringsofambition,werecontenttotakeuptheSecondClasswork.
Annewasconsciousofapangoflonelinesswhenshefoundherselfinaroomwithfiftyotherstudents,notoneofwhomsheknew,exceptthetall,brown-hairedboyacrosstheroom;andknowinghiminthefashionshedid,didnothelphermuch,asshereflectedpessimistically.
Yetshewasundeniablygladthattheywereinthesameclass;theoldrivalrycouldstillbecarriedon,andAnnewouldhardlyhaveknownwhattodoifithadbeenlacking.
“Iwouldn’tfeelcomfortablewithoutit,”shethought.“Gilbertlooksawfullydetermined.
Isupposehe’smakinguphismind,hereandnow,towinthemedal.Whatasplendidchinhehas!Inevernoticeditbefore.
IdowishJaneandRubyhadgoneinforFirstClass,too.
IsupposeIwon’tfeelsomuchlikeacatinastrangegarretwhenIgetacquainted,though.
Iwonderwhichofthegirlsherearegoingtobemyfriends.It’sreallyaninterestingspeculation.
OfcourseIpromisedDianathatnoQueen’sgirl,nomatterhowmuchIlikedher,shouldeverbeasdeartomeassheis;butI’velotsofsecond-bestaffectionstobestow.
Ilikethelookofthatgirlwiththebrowneyesandthecrimsonwaist.
Shelooksvividandred-rosy;there’sthatpale,faironegazingoutofthewindow.
Shehaslovelyhair,andlooksasifsheknewathingortwoaboutdreams.
I’dliketoknowthemboth—knowthemwell—wellenoughtowalkwithmyarmabouttheirwaists,andcallthemnicknames.
ButjustnowIdon’tknowthemandtheydon’tknowme,andprobablydon’twanttoknowmeparticularly.Oh,it’slonesome!”
ItwaslonesomerstillwhenAnnefoundherselfaloneinherhallbedroomthatnightattwilight.
Shewasnottoboardwiththeothergirls,whoallhadrelativesintowntotakepityonthem.
MissJosephineBarrywouldhavelikedtoboardher,butBeechwoodwassofarfromtheAcademythatitwasoutofthequestion;somissBarryhuntedupaboarding-house,assuringMatthewandMarillathatitwastheveryplaceforAnne.
“Theladywhokeepsitisareducedgentlewoman,”explainedMissBarry.
“HerhusbandwasaBritishofficer,andsheisverycarefulwhatsortofboardersshetakes.
Annewillnotmeetwithanyobjectionablepersonsunderherroof.
Thetableisgood,andthehouseisneartheAcademy,inaquietneighborhood.”
Allthismightbequitetrue,andindeed,provedtobeso,butitdidnotmateriallyhelpAnneinthefirstagonyofhomesicknessthatseizeduponher.
Shelookeddismallyabouthernarrowlittleroom,withitsdull-papered,picturelesswalls,itssmallironbedsteadandemptybook-case;andahorriblechokecameintoherthroatasshethoughtofherownwhiteroomatGreenGables,whereshewouldhavethepleasantconsciousnessofagreatgreenstilloutdoors,ofsweetpeasgrowinginthegarden,andmoonlightfallingontheorchard,ofthebrookbelowtheslopeandthespruceboughstossinginthenightwindbeyondit,ofavaststarrysky,andthelightfromDiana’swindowshiningoutthroughthegapinthetrees.
Heretherewasnothingofthis;Anneknewthatoutsideofherwindowwasahardstreet,withanetworkoftelephonewiresshuttingoutthesky,thetrampofalienfeet,andathousandlightsgleamingonstrangerfaces.
Sheknewthatshewasgoingtocry,andfoughtagainstit.
“IWON’Tcry.It’ssilly—andweak—there’sthethirdtearsplashingdownbymynose.Therearemorecoming!
Imustthinkofsomethingfunnytostopthem.
Butthere’snothingfunnyexceptwhatisconnectedwithAvonlea,andthatonlymakesthingsworse—four—five—I’mgoinghomenextFriday,butthatseemsahundredyearsaway.
Oh,Matthewisnearlyhomebynow—andMarillaisatthegate,lookingdownthelaneforhim—six—seven—eight—oh,there’snouseincountingthem!They’recominginafloodpresently.
Ican’tcheerup—Idon’tWANTtocheerup.It’snicertobemiserable!”
Thefloodoftearswouldhavecome,nodoubt,hadnotJosiePyeappearedatthatmoment.
InthejoyofseeingafamiliarfaceAnneforgotthattherehadneverbeenmuchlovelostbetweenherandJosie.
AsapartofAvonlealifeevenaPyewaswelcome.
“I’msogladyoucameup,”Annesaidsincerely.
“You’vebeencrying,”remarkedJosie,withaggravatingpity.
“Isupposeyou’rehomesick—somepeoplehavesolittleself-controlinthatrespect.
I’venointentionofbeinghomesick,Icantellyou.
Town’stoojollyafterthatpokyoldAvonlea.
IwonderhowIeverexistedtheresolong.
Youshouldn’tcry,Anne;itisn’tbecoming,foryournoseandeyesgetred,andthenyouseemALLred.
I’daperfectlyscrumptioustimeintheAcademytoday.OurFrenchprofessorissimplyaduck.
Hismoustachewouldgiveyoukerwollowpsoftheheart.Haveyouanythingeatablearound,Anne?I’mliterallystarving.
Ah,IguessedlikelyMarilla’dloadyouupwithcake.That’swhyIcalledround.
OtherwiseI’dhavegonetotheparktohearthebandplaywithFrankStockley.
HeboardssameplaceasIdo,andhe’sasport.
Henoticedyouinclasstoday,andaskedmewhothered-headedgirlwas.
ItoldhimyouwereanorphanthattheCuthbertshadadopted,andnobodyknewverymuchaboutwhatyou’dbeenbeforethat.”
Annewaswonderingif,afterall,solitudeandtearswerenotmoresatisfactorythanJosiePye’scompanionshipwhenJaneandRubyappeared,eachwithaninchofQueen’scolorribbon—purpleandscarlet—pinnedproudlytohercoat.
AsJosiewasnot“speaking”toJanejustthenshehadtosubsideintocomparativeharmlessness.
“Well,”saidJanewithasigh,“IfeelasifI’dlivedmanymoonssincethemorning.
IoughttobehomestudyingmyVirgil—thathorridoldprofessorgaveustwentylinestostartinontomorrow.
ButIsimplycouldn’tsettledowntostudytonight.
Anne,methinksIseethetracesoftears.Ifyou’vebeencryingDOownup.
Itwillrestoremyself-respect,forIwassheddingtearsfreelybeforeRubycamealong.
Idon’tmindbeingagoosesomuchifsomebodyelseisgoosey,too.Cake?
You’llgivemeateenypiece,won’tyou?Thankyou.IthastherealAvonleaflavor.”
Ruby,perceivingtheQueen’scalendarlyingonthetable,wantedtoknowifAnnemeanttotryforthegoldmedal.
Anneblushedandadmittedshewasthinkingofit.
“Oh,thatremindsme,”saidJosie,“Queen’sistogetoneoftheAveryscholarshipsafterall.Thewordcametoday.
FrankStockleytoldme—hisuncleisoneoftheboardofgovernors,youknow.
ItwillbeannouncedintheAcademytomorrow.”
AnAveryscholarship!Annefeltherheartbeatmorequickly,andthehorizonsofherambitionshiftedandbroadenedasifbymagic.
BeforeJosiehadtoldthenewsAnne’shighestpinnacleofaspirationhadbeenateacher’sprovinciallicense,FirstClass,attheendoftheyear,andperhapsthemedal!
ButnowinonemomentAnnesawherselfwinningtheAveryscholarship,takinganArtscourseatRedmondCollege,andgraduatinginagownandmortarboard,beforetheechoofJosie’swordshaddiedaway.
FortheAveryscholarshipwasinEnglish,andAnnefeltthathereherfootwasonnativeheath.
AwealthymanufacturerofNewBrunswickhaddiedandleftpartofhisfortunetoendowalargenumberofscholarshipstobedistributedamongthevarioushighschoolsandacademiesoftheMaritimeProvinces,accordingtotheirrespectivestandings.
TherehadbeenmuchdoubtwhetheronewouldbeallottedtoQueen’s,butthematterwassettledatlast,andattheendoftheyearthegraduatewhomadethehighestmarkinEnglishandEnglishLiteraturewouldwinthescholarship—twohundredandfiftydollarsayearforfouryearsatRedmondCollege.
NowonderthatAnnewenttobedthatnightwithtinglingcheeks!
“I’llwinthatscholarshipifhardworkcandoit,”sheresolved.
“Wouldn’tMatthewbeproudifIgottobeaB.A.?Oh,it’sdelightfultohaveambitions.I’msogladIhavesuchalot.
Andthereneverseemstobeanyendtothem—that’sthebestofit.
Justassoonasyouattaintooneambitionyouseeanotheroneglitteringhigherupstill.Itdoesmakelifesointeresting.”
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