Oh，Anne，Anne，Ididn’tmeantosaythat……itjustslippedoutbeforeIthought。HemadeaSPLENDIDsplash。Buthelookedsofunnywhenhecrawledout，allwetandmuddy。Thegirlslaughedmore’never，butGraciedidn’tlaugh。Shelookedsorry。Gracie’sanicegirlbutshe’sgotasnubnose。WhenIgetbigenoughtohaveagirlIwon’thaveonewithasnubnose……I’llpickonewithaprettynoselikeyours，Anne。\"
\"Aboywhomakessuchamessofsyrupalloverhisfacewhenheiseatinghispuddingwillnevergetagirltolookathim，\"saidMarillaseverely。
\"ButI’llwashmyfacebeforeIgocourting，\"protestedDavy，tryingtoimprovemattersbyrubbingthebackofhishandoverthesmears。\"AndI’llwashbehindmyearstoo，withoutbeingtold。
Irememberedtothismorning，Marilla。Idon’tforgethalfasoftenasIdid。But……\"andDavysighed……\"there’ssomanycornersaboutafellowthatit’sawfulhardtorememberthemall。Well，ifIcan’tgotoMissLavendar’sI’llgooverandseeMrs。Harrison。
Mrs。Harrison’sanawfulnicewoman，Itellyou。Shekeepsajarofcookiesinherpantrya-purposeforlittleboys，andshealwaysgivesmethescrapingsoutofapanshe’smixedupaplumcakein。
Agoodmanyplumssticktothesides，yousee。Mr。Harrisonwasalwaysaniceman，buthe’stwiceasnicesincehegotmarriedoveragain。Iguessgettingmarriedmakesfolksnicer。Whydon’tYOU
getmarried，Marilla？Iwanttoknow。\"
Marilla’sstateofsingleblessednesshadneverbeenasorepointwithher，sosheansweredamiably，withanexchangeofsignificantlookswithAnne，thatshesupposeditwasbecausenobodywouldhaveher。
\"Butmaybeyouneveraskedanybodytohaveyou，\"protestedDavy。
\"Oh，Davy，\"saidDoraprimly，shockedintospeakingwithoutbeingspokento，\"it’stheMENthathavetodotheasking。\"
\"Idon’tknowwhytheyhavetodoitALWAYS，\"grumbledDavy。
\"Seemstomeeverything’sputonthemeninthisworld。
CanIhavesomemorepudding，Marilla？\"
\"You’vehadasmuchaswasgoodforyou，\"saidMarilla；butshegavehimamoderatesecondhelping。
\"Iwishpeoplecouldliveonpudding。Whycan’tthey，Marilla？
Iwanttoknow。\"
\"Becausethey’dsoongettiredofit。\"
\"I’dliketotrythatformyself，\"saidskepticalDavy。\"ButI
guessit’sbettertohavepuddingonlyonfishandcompanydaysthannoneatall。TheyneverhaveanyatMiltyBoulter’s。
Miltysayswhencompanycomeshismothergivesthemcheeseandcutsitherself……onelittlebitapieceandoneoverformanners。\"
\"IfMiltyBoultertalkslikethatabouthismotheratleastyouneedn’trepeatit，\"saidMarillaseverely。
\"Blessmysoul，\"……DavyhadpickedthisexpressionupfromMr。Harrisonanduseditwithgreatgusto……\"Miltymeantitasacompelment。He’sawfulproudofhismother，causefolkssayshecouldscratchalivingonarock。\"
\"I……Isupposethempeskyhensareinmypansybedagain，\"
saidMarilla，risingandgoingouthurriedly。
TheslanderedhenswerenowherenearthepansybedandMarilladidnotevenglanceatit。Instead，shesatdownonthecellarhatchandlaugheduntilshewasashamedofherself。
WhenAnneandPaulreachedthestonehousethatafternoontheyfoundMissLavendarandCharlottatheFourthinthegarden，weeding，raking，clipping，andtrimmingasiffordearlife。
MissLavendarherself，allgayandsweetinthefrillsandlacessheloved，droppedhershearsandranjoyouslytomeetherguests，whileCharlottatheFourthgrinnedcheerfully。
\"Welcome，Anne。Ithoughtyou’dcometoday。Youbelongtotheafternoonsoitbroughtyou。Thingsthatbelongtogetheraresuretocometogether。Whatalotoftroublethatwouldsavesomepeopleiftheyonlyknewit。Buttheydon’t……andsotheywastebeautifulenergymovingheavenandearthtobringthingstogetherthatDON’Tbelong。Andyou，Paul……why，you’vegrown！You’rehalfaheadtallerthanwhenyouwereherebefore。\"
\"Yes，I’vebeguntogrowlikepigweedinthenight，asMrs。Lyndesays，\"
saidPaul，infrankdelightoverthefact。\"Grandmasaysit’stheporridgetakingeffectatlast。Perhapsitis。Goodnessknows……\"
Paulsigheddeeply……\"I’veeatenenoughtomakeanyonegrow。
Idohope，nowthatI’vebegun，I’llkeepontillI’mastallasfather。
Heissixfeet，youknow，MissLavendar。\"
Yes，MissLavendardidknow；theflushonherprettycheeksdeepenedalittle；shetookPaul’shandononesideandAnne’sontheotherandwalkedtothehouseinsilence。
\"Isitagooddayfortheechoes，MissLavendar？\"queriedPaulanxiously。
ThedayofhisfirstvisithadbeentoowindyforechoesandPaulhadbeenmuchdisappointed。
\"Yes，justthebestkindofaday，\"answeredMissLavendar，rousingherselffromherreverie。\"Butfirstweareallgoingtohavesomethingtoeat。Iknowyoutwofolksdidn’twalkallthewaybackherethroughthosebeechwoodswithoutgettinghungry，andCharlottatheFourthandIcaneatanyhouroftheday……wehavesuchobligingappetites。Sowe’lljustmakearaidonthepantry。
Fortunatelyit’slovelyandfull。IhadapresentimentthatIwasgoingtohavecompanytodayandCharlottatheFourthandIprepared。\"
\"Ithinkyouareoneofthepeoplewhoalwayshavenicethingsintheirpantry，\"declaredPaul。\"Grandma’slikethattoo。Butshedoesn’tapproveofsnacksbetweenmeals。Iwonder，\"headdedmeditatively，\"ifIOUGHTtoeatthemawayfromhomewhenIknowshedoesn’tapprove。\"
\"Oh，Idon’tthinkshewoulddisapproveafteryouhavehadalongwalk。Thatmakesadifference，\"saidMissLavendar，exchangingamusedglanceswithAnneoverPaul’sbrowncurls。
\"IsupposethatsnacksAREextremelyunwholesome。ThatiswhywehavethemsooftenatEchoLodge。We……CharlottatheFourthandI……liveindefianceofeveryknownlawofdiet。Weeatallsortsofindigestiblethingswheneverwehappentothinkofit，bydayornight；andweflourishlikegreenbaytrees。Wearealwaysintendingtoreform。Whenwereadanyarticleinapaperwarningusagainstsomethingwelikewecutitoutandpinituponthekitchenwallsothatwe’llrememberit。Butwenevercansomehow……untilafterwe’vegoneandeatenthatverything。Nothinghaseverkilledusyet；butCharlottatheFourthhasbeenknowntohavebaddreamsafterwehadeatendoughnutsandmincepieandfruitcakebeforewewenttobed。\"
\"GrandmaletsmehaveaglassofmilkandasliceofbreadandbutterbeforeIgotobed；andonSundaynightssheputsjamonthebread，\"
saidPaul。\"SoI’malwaysgladwhenit’sSundaynight……formorereasonsthanone。Sundayisaverylongdayontheshoreroad。
Grandmasaysit’salltooshortforherandthatfatherneverfoundSundaystiresomewhenhewasalittleboy。Itwouldn’tseemsolongifIcouldtalktomyrockpeoplebutIneverdothatbecauseGrandmadoesn’tapproveofitonSundays。Ithinkagooddeal；butI’mafraidmythoughtsareworldly。GrandmasaysweshouldneverthinkanythingbutreligiousthoughtsonSundays。Butteacherheresaidoncethateveryreallybeautifulthoughtwasreligious，nomatterwhatitwasabout，orwhatdaywethoughtiton。ButIfeelsureGrandmathinksthatsermonsandSundaySchoollessonsaretheonlythingsyoucanthinktrulyreligiousthoughtsabout。AndwhenitcomestoadifferenceofopinionbetweenGrandmaandteacherIdon’tknowwhattodo。Inmyheart\"……
PaullaidhishandonhisbreastandraisedveryseriousblueeyestoMissLavendar’simmediatelysympatheticface……\"Iagreewithteacher。
Butthen，yousee，GrandmahasbroughtfatherupHERwayandmadeabrilliantsuccessofhim；andteacherhasneverbroughtanybodyupyet，thoughshe’shelpingwithDavyandDora。Butyoucan’ttellhowthey’llturnouttilltheyAREgrownup。SosometimesIfeelasifitmightbesafertogobyGrandma’sopinions。\"
\"Ithinkitwould，\"agreedAnnesolemnly。\"Anyway，IdaresaythatifyourGrandmaandIbothgotdowntowhatwereallydomean，underourdifferentwaysofexpressingit，we’dfindoutwebothmeantmuchthesamething。You’dbettergobyherwayofexpressingit，sinceit’sbeentheresultofexperience。We’llhavetowaituntilweseehowthetwinsdoturnoutbeforewecanbesurethatmywayisequallygood。\"
Afterlunchtheywentbacktothegarden，wherePaulmadetheacquaintanceoftheechoes，tohiswonderanddelight，whileAnneandMissLavendarsatonthestonebenchunderthepoplarandtalked。
\"Soyouaregoingawayinthefall？\"saidMissLavendarwistfully。
\"Ioughttobegladforyoursake，Anne……butI’mhorribly，selfishlysorry。Ishallmissyousomuch。Oh，sometimes，Ithinkitisofnousetomakefriends。Theyonlygooutofyourlifeafterawhileandleaveahurtthatisworsethantheemptinessbeforetheycame。\"
\"ThatsoundslikesomethingMissElizaAndrewsmightsaybutneverMissLavendar，\"saidAnne。\"NOTHINGisworsethanemptiness……andI’mnotgoingoutofyourlife。Therearesuchthingsaslettersandvacations。Dearest，I’mafraidyou’relookingalittlepaleandtired。\"
\"Oh……hoo……hoo……hoo，\"wentPaulonthedyke，wherehehadbeenmakingnoisesdiligently……notallofthemmelodiousinthemaking，butallcomingbacktransmutedintotheverygoldandsilverofsoundbythefairyalchemistsovertheriver。MissLavendarmadeanimpatientmovementwithherprettyhands。
\"I’mjusttiredofeverything……evenoftheechoes。Thereisnothinginmylifebutechoes……echoesoflosthopesanddreamsandjoys。
They’rebeautifulandmocking。OhAnne，it’shorridofmetotalklikethiswhenIhavecompany。It’sjustthatI’mgettingoldanditdoesn’tagreewithme。IknowI’llbefearfullycrankybythetimeI’msixty。ButperhapsallIneedisacourseofbluepills。\"
AtthismomentCharlottatheFourth，whohaddisappearedafterlunch，returned，andannouncedthatthenortheastcornerofMr。JohnKimball’spasturewasredwithearlystrawberries，andwouldn’tMissShirleyliketogoandpicksome。
\"Earlystrawberriesfortea！\"exclaimedMissLavendar。\"Oh，I’mnotsooldasIthought……andIdon’tneedasinglebluepill！
Girls，whenyoucomebackwithyourstrawberrieswe’llhaveteaouthereunderthesilverpoplar。I’llhaveitallreadyforyouwithhome-growncream。\"
AnneandCharlottatheFourthaccordinglybetookthemselvesbacktoMr。Kimball’spasture，agreenremoteplacewheretheairwasassoftasvelvetandfragrantasabedofvioletsandgoldenasamber。
\"Oh，isn’titsweetandfreshbackhere？\"breathedAnne。\"IjustfeelasifIweredrinkinginthesunshine。\"
\"Yes，ma’am，sodoI。That’sjustexactlyhowIfeeltoo，ma’am，\"
agreedCharlottatheFourth，whowouldhavesaidpreciselythesamethingifAnnehadremarkedthatshefeltlikeapelicanofthewilderness。AlwaysafterAnnehadvisitedEchoLodgeCharlottatheFourthmountedtoherlittleroomoverthekitchenandtriedbeforeherlookingglasstospeakandlookandmovelikeAnne。Charlottacouldneverflatterherselfthatshequitesucceeded；butpracticemakesperfect，asCharlottahadlearnedatschool，andshefondlyhopedthatintimeshemightcatchthetrickofthatdaintyupliftofchin，thatquick，starryoutflashingofeyes，thatfashionofwalkingasifyouwereaboughswayinginthewind。ItseemedsoeasywhenyouwatchedAnne。CharlottatheFourthadmiredAnnewholeheartedly。Itwasnotthatshethoughthersoveryhandsome。
DianaBarry’sbeautyofcrimsoncheekandblackcurlswasmuchmoretoCharlottatheFourth’stastethanAnne’smoonshinecharmofluminousgrayeyesandthepale，everchangingrosesofhercheeks。
\"ButI’dratherlooklikeyouthanbepretty，\"shetoldAnnesincerely。
Annelaughed，sippedthehoneyfromthetribute，andcastawaythesting。
Shewasusedtotakinghercomplimentsmixed。PublicopinionneveragreedonAnne’slooks。Peoplewhohadheardhercalledhandsomemetherandweredisappointed。Peoplewhohadheardhercalledplainsawherandwonderedwhereotherpeople’seyeswere。Anneherselfwouldneverbelievethatshehadanyclaimtobeauty。
Whenshelookedintheglassallshesawwasalittlepalefacewithsevenfrecklesonthenosethereof。Hermirrorneverrevealedtohertheelusive，ever-varyingplayoffeelingthatcameandwentoverherfeatureslikearosyilluminatingflame，orthecharmofdreamandlaughteralternatinginherbigeyes。
WhileAnnewasnotbeautifulinanystrictlydefinedsenseofthewordshepossessedacertainevasivecharmanddistinctionofappearancethatleftbeholderswithapleasurablesenseofsatisfactioninthatsoftlyroundedgirlhoodofhers，withallitsstronglyfeltpotentialities。ThosewhoknewAnnebestfelt，withoutrealizingthattheyfeltit，thathergreatestattractionwastheauraofpossibilitysurroundingher……thepoweroffuturedevelopmentthatwasinher。Sheseemedtowalkinanatmosphereofthingsabouttohappen。
Astheypicked，CharlottatheFourthconfidedtoAnneherfearsregardingMissLavendar。Thewarm-heartedlittlehandmaidenwashonestlyworriedoverheradoredmistress’condition。
\"MissLavendarisn’twell，MissShirley，ma’am。I’msuresheisn’t，thoughshenevercomplains。Shehasn’tseemedlikeherselfthislongwhile，ma’am……notsincethatdayyouandPaulwereheretogetherbefore。Ifeelsureshecaughtcoldthatnight，ma’am。
Afteryouandhimhadgoneshewentoutandwalkedinthegardenforlongafterdarkwithnothingbutalittleshawlonher。
TherewasalotofsnowonthewalksandIfeelsureshegotachill，ma’am。EversincethenI’venoticedheractingtiredandlonesomelike。Shedon’tseemtotakeaninterestinanything，ma’am。
Sheneverpretendscompany’scoming，norfixesupforit，nornothing，ma’am。It’sonlywhenyoucomesheseemstochirkupabit。Andtheworstsignofall，MissShirley，ma’am……\"CharlottatheFourthloweredhervoiceasifshewereabouttotellsomeexceedinglyweirdandawfulsymptomindeed……\"isthatshenevergetscrossnowwhenIbreaksthings。Why，MissShirley，ma’am，yesterdayI
brukhergreenandyallerbowlthat’salwaysstoodonthebookcase。
HergrandmotherbroughtitoutfromEnglandandMissLavendarwasawfulchoiceofit。Iwasdustingitjustascareful，MissShirley，ma’am，anditslippedout，sofashion，aforeIcouldgrabholtofit，andbrukintoaboutfortymillyunpieces。ItellyouIwassorryandscared。IthoughtMissLavendarwouldscoldmeawful，ma’am；
andI’druthershehadthantakeitthewayshedid。Shejustcomeinandhardlylookedatitandsaid，`It’snomatter，Charlotta。
Takeupthepiecesandthrowthemaway。’Justlikethat，MissShirley，ma’am……`takeupthepiecesandthrowthemaway，’asifitwasn’thergrandmother’sbowlfromEngland。Oh，sheisn’twellandIfeelawfulbadaboutit。She’sgotnobodytolookafterherbutme。\"
CharlottatheFourth’seyesbrimmedupwithtears。Annepattedthelittlebrownpawholdingthecrackedpinkcupsympathetically。
\"IthinkMissLavendarneedsachange，Charlotta。Shestaysherealonetoomuch。Can’tweinducehertogoawayforalittletrip？\"
Charlottashookherhead，withitsrampantbows，disconsolately。
\"Idon’tthinkso，MissShirley，ma’am。MissLavendarhatesvisiting。
She’sonlygotthreerelationssheevervisitsandshesaysshejustgoestoseethemasafamilyduty。Lasttimewhenshecomehomeshesaidshewasn’tgoingtovisitforfamilydutynomore。
`I’vecomehomeinlovewithloneliness，Charlotta，’shesaystome，`andIneverwanttostrayfrommyownvineandfigtreeagain。
Myrelationstrysohardtomakeanoldladyofmeandithasabadeffectonme。’Justlikethat，MissShirley，ma’am。
’Ithasaverybadeffectonme。’SoIdon’tthinkitwoulddoanygoodtocoaxhertogovisiting。\"
\"Wemustseewhatcanbedone，\"saidAnnedecidedly，assheputthelastpossibleberryinherpinkcup。\"JustassoonasIhavemyvacationI’llcomethroughandspendawholeweekwithyou。
We’llhaveapicniceverydayandpretendallsortsofinterestingthings，andseeifwecan’tcheerMissLavendarup。\"
\"Thatwillbetheverything，MissShirley，ma’am，\"exclaimedCharlottatheFourthinrapture。ShewasgladforMissLavendar’ssakeandforherowntoo。WithawholeweekinwhichtostudyAnneconstantlyshewouldsurelybeabletolearnhowtomoveandbehavelikeher。
WhenthegirlsgotbacktoEchoLodgetheyfoundthatMissLavendarandPaulhadcarriedthelittlesquaretableoutofthekitchentothegardenandhadeverythingreadyfortea。Nothingevertastedsodeliciousasthosestrawberriesandcream，eatenunderagreatblueskyallcurdledoverwithfluffylittlewhiteclouds，andinthelongshadowsofthewoodwithitslispingsanditsmurmurings。
AfterteaAnnehelpedCharlottawashthedishesinthekitchen，whileMissLavendarsatonthestonebenchwithPaulandheardallabouthisrockpeople。Shewasagoodlistener，thissweetMissLavendar，butjustatthelastitstruckPaulthatshehadsuddenlylostinterestintheTwinSailors。
\"MissLavendar，whydoyoulookatmelikethat？\"heaskedgravely。
\"HowdoIlook，Paul？\"
\"JustasifyouwerelookingthroughmeatsomebodyIputyouinmindof，\"
saidPaul，whohadsuchoccasionalflashesofuncannyinsightthatitwasn’tquitesafetohavesecretswhenhewasabout。
\"YoudoputmeinmindofsomebodyIknewlongago，\"saidMissLavendardreamily。
\"Whenyouwereyoung？\"
\"Yes，whenIwasyoung。DoIseemveryoldtoyou，Paul？\"
\"Doyouknow，Ican’tmakeupmymindaboutthat，\"saidPaulconfidentially。\"Yourhairlooksold……Ineverknewayoungpersonwithwhitehair。Butyoureyesareasyoungasmybeautifulteacher’swhenyoulaugh。Itellyouwhat，MissLavendar\"……
Paul’svoiceandfacewereassolemnasajudge’s……\"Ithinkyouwouldmakeasplendidmother。Youhavejusttherightlookinyoureyes……thelookmylittlemotheralwayshad。Ithinkit’sapityyouhaven’tanyboysofyourown。\"
\"Ihavealittledreamboy，Paul。\"
\"Oh，haveyoureally？Howoldishe？\"
\"AboutyourageIthink。HeoughttobeolderbecauseIdreamedhimlongbeforeyouwereborn。ButI’llneverlethimgetanyolderthanelevenortwelve；becauseifIdidsomedayhemightgrowupaltogetherandthenI’dlosehim。\"
\"Iknow，\"noddedPaul。\"That’sthebeautyofdream-people……theystayanyageyouwantthem。YouandmybeautifulteacherandmemyselfaretheonlyfolksintheworldthatIknowofthathavedream-people。Isn’titfunnyandniceweshouldallknoweachother？ButIguessthatkindofpeoplealwaysfindeachotherout。
Grandmaneverhasdream-peopleandMaryJoethinksI’mwrongintheupperstorybecauseIhavethem。ButIthinkit’ssplendidtohavethem。
YOUknow，MissLavendar。Tellmeallaboutyourlittledream-boy。\"
\"Hehasblueeyesandcurlyhair。Hestealsinandwakensmewithakisseverymorning。Thenalldayheplayshereinthegarden……
andIplaywithhim。Suchgamesaswehave。Werunracesandtalkwiththeechoes；andItellhimstories。Andwhentwilightcomes……\"
\"Iknow，\"interruptedPauleagerly。\"Hecomesandsitsbesideyou……
SO……becauseofcourseattwelvehe’dbetoobigtoclimbintoyourlap……andlayshisheadonyourshoulder……SO……andyouputyourarmsabouthimandholdhimtight，tight，andrestyourcheekonhishead……
yes，that’stheveryway。Oh，youDOknow，MissLavendar。\"
Annefoundthetwoofthemtherewhenshecameoutofthestonehouse，andsomethinginMissLavendar’sfacemadeherhatetodisturbthem。
\"I’mafraidwemustgo，Paul，ifwewanttogethomebeforedark。
MissLavendar，I’mgoingtoinvitemyselftoEchoLodgeforawholeweekprettysoon。\"
\"IfyoucomeforaweekI’llkeepyoufortwo，\"threatenedMissLavendar。
XXVIII
ThePrinceComesBacktotheEnchantedPalaceThelastdayofschoolcameandwent。Atriumphant\"semi-annualexamination\"washeldandAnne’spupilsacquittedthemselvessplendidly。Attheclosetheygaveheranaddressandawritingdesk。Allthegirlsandladiespresentcried，andsomeoftheboyshaditcastuptothemlateronthattheycriedtoo，althoughtheyalwaysdeniedit。
Mrs。HarmonAndrews，Mrs。PeterSloane，andMrs。WilliamBellwalkedhometogetherandtalkedthingsover。
\"IdothinkitissuchapityAnneisleavingwhenthechildrenseemsomuchattachedtoher，\"sighedMrs。PeterSloane，whohadahabitofsighingovereverythingandevenfinishedoffherjokesthatway。
\"Tobesure，\"sheaddedhastily，\"weallknowwe’llhaveagoodteachernextyeartoo。\"
\"Janewilldoherduty，I’venodoubt，\"saidMrs。Andrewsratherstiffly。
\"Idon’tsupposeshe’lltellthechildrenquitesomanyfairytalesorspendsomuchtimeroamingaboutthewoodswiththem。ButshehashernameontheInspector’sRollofHonorandtheNewbridgepeopleareinaterriblestateoverherleaving。\"
\"I’mrealgladAnneisgoingtocollege，\"saidMrs。Bell。
\"Shehasalwayswanteditanditwillbeasplendidthingforher。\"
\"Well，Idon’tknow。\"Mrs。Andrewswasdeterminednottoagreefullywithanybodythatday。\"Idon’tseethatAnneneedsanymoreeducation。
She’llprobablybemarryingGilbertBlythe，ifhisinfatuationforherlaststillhegetsthroughcollege，andwhatgoodwillLatinandGreekdoherthen？Iftheytaughtyouatcollegehowtomanageamantheremightbesomesenseinhergoing。\"
Mrs。HarmonAndrews，soAvonleagossipwhispered，hadneverlearnedhowtomanageher\"man，\"andasaresulttheAndrewshouseholdwasnotexactlyamodelofdomestichappiness。
\"IseethattheCharlottetowncalltoMr。AllanisupbeforethePresbytery，\"saidMrs。Bell。\"Thatmeanswe’llbelosinghimsoon，Isuppose。\"
\"They’renotgoingbeforeSeptember，\"saidMrs。Sloane。\"Itwillbeagreatlosstothecommunity……thoughIalwaysdidthinkthatMrs。Allandressedrathertoogayforaminister’swife。
Butwearenoneofusperfect。DidyounoticehowneatandsnugMr。Harrisonlookedtoday？Ineversawsuchachangedman。HegoestochurcheverySundayandhassubscribedtothesalary。\"
\"Hasn’tthatPaulIrvinggrowntobeabigboy？\"saidMrs。Andrews。
\"Hewassuchamiteforhisagewhenhecamehere。IdeclareI
hardlyknewhimtoday。He’sgettingtolookalotlikehisfather。\"
\"He’sasmartboy，\"saidMrs。Bell。
\"He’ssmartenough，but\"……Mrs。Andrewsloweredhervoice……\"I
believehetellsqueerstories。Graciecamehomefromschoolonedaylastweekwiththegreatestrigmarolehehadtoldheraboutpeoplewholiveddownattheshore……storiestherecouldn’tbeawordoftruthin，youknow。ItoldGracienottobelievethem，andshesaidPauldidn’tintendherto。Butifhedidn’twhatdidhetellthemtoherfor？\"
\"AnnesaysPaulisagenius，\"saidMrs。Sloane。
\"Hemaybe。YouneverknowwhattoexpectofthemAmericans，\"
saidMrs。Andrews。Mrs。Andrews’onlyacquaintancewiththeword\"genius\"wasderivedfromthecolloquialfashionofcallinganyeccentricindividual\"aqueergenius。\"Sheprobablythought，withMaryJoe，thatitmeantapersonwithsomethingwronginhisupperstory。
BackintheschoolroomAnnewassittingaloneatherdesk，asshehadsatonthefirstdayofschooltwoyearsbefore，herfaceleaningonherhand，herdewyeyeslookingwistfullyoutofthewindowtotheLakeofShiningWaters。Herheartwassowrungoverthepartingwithherpupilsthatforamomentcollegehadlostallitscharm。ShestillfelttheclaspofAnnettaBell’sarmsaboutherneckandheardthechildishwail，\"I’llNEVERloveanyteacherasmuchasyou，MissShirley，never，never。\"
Fortwoyearsshehadworkedearnestlyandfaithfully，makingmanymistakesandlearningfromthem。Shehadhadherreward。Shehadtaughtherscholarssomething，butshefeltthattheyhadtaughthermuchmore……lessonsoftenderness，self-control，innocentwisdom，loreofchildishhearts。Perhapsshehadnotsucceededin\"inspiring\"anywonderfulambitionsinherpupils，butshehadtaughtthem，morebyherownsweetpersonalitythanbyallhercarefulprecepts，thatitwasgoodandnecessaryintheyearsthatwerebeforethemtolivetheirlivesfinelyandgraciously，holdingfasttotruthandcourtesyandkindness，keepingalooffromallthatsavoredoffalsehoodandmeannessandvulgarity。Theywere，perhaps，allunconsciousofhavinglearnedsuchlessons；buttheywouldrememberandpracticethemlongaftertheyhadforgottenthecapitalofAfghanistanandthedatesoftheWarsoftheRoses。
\"Anotherchapterinmylifeisclosed，\"saidAnnealoud，asshelockedherdesk。Shereallyfeltverysadoverit；buttheromanceintheideaofthat\"closedchapter\"didcomfortheralittle。
AnnespentafortnightatEchoLodgeearlyinhervacationandeverybodyconcernedhadagoodtime。
ShetookMissLavendaronashoppingexpeditiontotownandpersuadedhertobuyaneworgandydress；thencametheexcitementofcuttingandmakingittogether，whilethehappyCharlottatheFourthbastedandsweptupclippings。MissLavendarhadcomplainedthatshecouldnotfeelmuchinterestinanything，butthesparklecamebacktohereyesoverherprettydress。
\"Whatafoolish，frivolouspersonImustbe，\"shesighed。
\"I’mwholesomelyashamedtothinkthatanewdress……
evenitisaforget-me-notorgandy……shouldexhilaratemeso，whenagoodconscienceandanextracontributiontoForeignMissionscouldn’tdoit。\"
MidwayinhervisitAnnewenthometoGreenGablesforadaytomendthetwins’stockingsandsettleupDavy’saccumulatedstoreofquestions。
IntheeveningshewentdowntotheshoreroadtoseePaulIrving。
Asshepassedbythelow，squarewindowoftheIrvingsittingroomshecaughtaglimpseofPaulonsomebody’slap；butthenextmomenthecameflyingthroughthehall。
\"Oh，MissShirley，\"hecriedexcitedly，\"youcan’tthinkwhathashappened！Somethingsosplendid。Fatherishere……
justthinkofthat！Fatherishere！Comerightin。Father，thisismybeautifulteacher。YOUknow，father。\"
StephenIrvingcameforwardtomeetAnnewithasmile。Hewasatall，handsomemanofmiddleage，withiron-grayhair，deep-set，darkblueeyes，andastrong，sadface，splendidlymodeledaboutchinandbrow。Justthefaceforaheroofromance，Annethoughtwithathrillofintensesatisfaction。Itwassodisappointingtomeetsomeonewhooughttobeaheroandfindhimbaldorstooped，orotherwiselackinginmanlybeauty。AnnewouldhavethoughtitdreadfuliftheobjectofMissLavendar’sromancehadnotlookedthepart。
\"Sothisismylittleson’s`beautifulteacher，’ofwhomIhaveheardsomuch，\"saidMr。Irvingwithaheartyhandshake。\"Paul’slettershavebeensofullofyou，MissShirley，thatIfeelasifI
wereprettywellacquaintedwithyoualready。IwanttothankyouforwhatyouhavedoneforPaul。Ithinkthatyourinfluencehasbeenjustwhatheneeded。Motherisoneofthebestanddearestofwomen；butherrobust，matter-of-factScotchcommonsensecouldnotalwaysunderstandatemperamentlikemyladdie’s。Whatwaslackinginheryouhavesupplied。Betweenyou，IthinkPaul’straininginthesetwopastyearshasbeenasnearlyidealasamotherlessboy’scouldbe。\"
Everybodylikestobeappreciated。UnderMr。Irving’spraiseAnne’sface\"burstflowerlikeintorosybloom，\"andthebusy，wearymanoftheworld，lookingather，thoughthehadneverseenafairer，sweeterslipofgirlhoodthanthislittle\"downeast\"
schoolteacherwithherredhairandwonderfuleyes。
Paulsatbetweenthemblissfullyhappy。
\"Ineverdreamedfatherwascoming，\"hesaidradiantly。\"EvenGrandmadidn’tknowit。Itwasagreatsurprise。Asageneralthing……\"
Paulshookhisbrowncurlsgravely……\"Idon’tliketobesurprised。
Youloseallthefunofexpectingthingswhenyou’resurprised。
Butinacaselikethisitisallright。FathercamelastnightafterIhadgonetobed。AndafterGrandmaandMaryJoehadstoppedbeingsurprisedheandGrandmacameupstairstolookatme，notmeaningtowakemeuptillmorning。ButIwokerightupandsawfather。
ItellyouIjustsprangathim。\"
\"Withahuglikeabear’s，\"saidMr。Irving，puttinghisarmsaroundPaul’sshouldersmilingly。\"Ihardlyknewmyboy，hehadgrownsobigandbrownandsturdy。\"
\"Idon’tknowwhichwasthemostpleasedtoseefather，GrandmaorI，\"
continuedPaul。\"Grandma’sbeeninkitchenalldaymakingthethingsfatherlikestoeat。Shewouldn’ttrustthemtoMaryJoe，shesays。
That’sHERwayofshowinggladness。_I_likebestjusttositandtalktofather。ButI’mgoingtoleaveyouforalittlewhilenowifyou’llexcuseme。ImustgetthecowsforMaryJoe。Thatisoneofmydailyduties。\"
WhenPaulhadscamperedawaytodohis\"dailyduty\"Mr。IrvingtalkedtoAnneofvariousmatters。ButAnnefeltthathewasthinkingofsomethingelseunderneathallthetime。Presentlyitcametothesurface。
\"InPaul’slastletterhespokeofgoingwithyoutovisitanold……
friendofmine……MissLewisatthestonehouseinGrafton。
Doyouknowherwell？\"
\"Yes，indeed，sheisaverydearfriendofmine，\"wasAnne’sdemurereply，whichgavenohintofthesuddenthrillthattingledoverherfromheadtofootatMr。Irving’squestion。Anne\"feltinstinctively\"thatromancewaspeepingatheraroundacorner。
Mr。Irvingroseandwenttothewindow，lookingoutonagreat，golden，billowingseawhereawildwindwasharping。Forafewmomentstherewassilenceinthelittledark-walledroom。ThenheturnedandlookeddownintoAnne’ssympatheticfacewithasmile，half-whimsical，half-tender。
\"Iwonderhowmuchyouknow，\"hesaid。
\"Iknowallaboutit，\"repliedAnnepromptly。\"Yousee，\"sheexplainedhastily，\"MissLavendarandIareveryintimate。Shewouldn’ttellthingsofsuchasacrednaturetoeverybody。Wearekindredspirits。\"
\"Yes，Ibelieveyouare。Well，Iamgoingtoaskafavorofyou。
IwouldliketogoandseeMissLavendarifshewillletme。WillyouaskherifImaycome？\"
Wouldshenot？Oh，indeedshewould！Yes，thiswasromance，thevery，therealthing，withallthecharmofrhymeandstoryanddream。
Itwasalittlebelated，perhaps，likearosebloominginOctoberwhichshouldhavebloomedinJune；butnonethelessarose，allsweetnessandfragrance，withthegleamofgoldinitsheart。
NeverdidAnne’sfeetbearheronamorewillingerrandthanonthatwalkthroughthebeechwoodstoGraftonthenextmorning。
ShefoundMissLavendarinthegarden。Annewasfearfullyexcited。
Herhandsgrewcoldandhervoicetrembled。
\"MissLavendar，Ihavesomethingtotellyou……somethingveryimportant。
Canyouguesswhatitis？\"
AnneneversupposedthatMissLavendarcouldGUESS；butMissLavendar’sfacegrewverypaleandMissLavendarsaidinaquiet，stillvoice，fromwhichallthecolorandsparklethatMissLavendar’svoiceusuallysuggestedhadfaded。
\"StephenIrvingishome？\"
\"Howdidyouknow？Whotoldyou？\"criedAnnedisappointedly，vexedthathergreatrevelationhadbeenanticipated。
\"Nobody。Iknewthatmustbeit，justfromthewayyouspoke。\"
\"Hewantstocomeandseeyou，\"saidAnne。\"MayIsendhimwordthathemay？\"
\"Yes，ofcourse，\"flutteredMissLavendar。\"Thereisnoreasonwhyheshouldn’t。Heisonlycomingasanyoldfriendmight。\"
AnnehadherownopinionaboutthatasshehastenedintothehousetowriteanoteatMissLavendar’sdesk。
\"Oh，it’sdelightfultobelivinginastorybook，\"shethoughtgaily。
\"Itwillcomeoutallrightofcourse……itmust……andPaulwillhaveamotherafterhisownheartandeverybodywillbehappy。
ButMr。IrvingwilltakeMissLavendaraway……anddearknowswhatwillhappentothelittlestonehouse……andsotherearetwosidestoit，asthereseemstobetoeverythinginthisworld。\"
TheimportantnotewaswrittenandAnneherselfcarriedittotheGraftonpostoffice，whereshewaylaidthemailcarrierandaskedhimtoleaveitattheAvonleaoffice。
\"It’ssoveryimportant，\"Anneassuredhimanxiously。ThemailcarrierwasarathergrumpyoldpersonagewhodidnotatalllookthepartofamessengerofCupid；andAnnewasnonetoocertainthathismemorywastobetrusted。Buthesaidhewoulddohisbesttorememberandshehadtobecontentedwiththat。
CharlottatheFourthfeltthatsomemysterypervadedthestonehousethatafternoon……amysteryfromwhichshewasexcluded。
MissLavendarroamedaboutthegardeninadistractedfashion。
Anne，too，seemedpossessedbyademonofunrest，andwalkedtoandfroandwentupanddown。CharlottatheFourthenduredittillatienceceasedtobeavirtue；thensheconfrontedAnneontheoccasionofthatromanticyoungperson’sthirdaimlessperegrinationthroughthekitchen。
\"Please，MissShirley，ma’am，\"saidCharlottatheFourth，withanindignanttossofherverybluebows，\"it’splaintobeseenyouandMissLavendarhavegotasecretandIthink，beggingyourpardonifI’mtooforward，MissShirley，ma’am，thatit’srealmeannottotellmewhenwe’veallbeensuchchums。\"
\"Oh，Charlottadear，I’dhavetoldyouallaboutitifitweremysecret……butit’sMissLavendar’s，yousee。However，I’lltellyouthismuch……andifnothingcomesofityoumustneverbreatheawordaboutittoalivingsoul。Yousee，PrinceCharmingiscomingtonight。Hecamelongago，butinafoolishmomentwentawayandwanderedafarandforgotthesecretofthemagicpathwaytotheenchantedcastle，wheretheprincesswasweepingherfaithfulheartoutforhim。Butatlastheremembereditagainandtheprincessiswaitingstill……becausenobodybutherowndearprincecouldcarryheroff。\"
\"Oh，MissShirley，ma’am，whatisthatinprose？\"gaspedthemystifiedCharlotta。
Annelaughed。
\"Inprose，anoldfriendofMissLavendar’siscomingtoseehertonight。\"
\"Doyoumeananoldbeauofhers？\"demandedtheliteralCharlotta。
\"ThatisprobablywhatIdomean……inprose，\"answeredAnnegravely。
\"ItisPaul’sfather……StephenIrving。Andgoodnessknowswhatwillcomeofit，butletushopeforthebest，Charlotta。\"
\"Ihopethathe’llmarryMissLavendar，\"wasCharlotta’sunequivocalresponse。
\"Somewomen’sintendedfromthestarttobeoldmaids，andI’mafraidI’moneofthem，MissShirley，ma’am，becauseI’veawfullittlepatiencewiththemen。
ButMissLavendarneverwas。AndI’vebeenawfulworried，thinkingwhatonearthshe’ddowhenIgotsobigI’dHAVEtogotoBoston。Thereain’tanymoregirlsinourfamilyanddearknowswhatshe’ddoifshegotsomestrangerthatmightlaughatherpretendingsandleavethingslyingroundoutoftheirplaceandnotbewillingtobecalledCharlottatheFifth。
Shemightgetsomeonewhowouldn’tbeasunluckyasmeinbreakingdishesbutshe’dnevergetanyonewho’dloveherbetter。\"
Andthefaithfullittlehandmaidendashedtotheovendoorwithasniff。
TheywentthroughtheformofhavingteaasusualthatnightatEchoLodge；butnobodyreallyateanything。AfterteaMissLavendarwenttoherroomandputonhernewforget-me-notorgandy，whileAnnedidherhairforher。Bothweredreadfullyexcited；
butMissLavendarpretendedtobeverycalmandindifferent。
\"Imustreallymendthatrentinthecurtaintomorrow，\"shesaidanxiously，inspectingitasifitweretheonlythingofanyimportancejustthen。\"Thosecurtainshavenotwornaswellastheyshould，consideringthepriceIpaid。Dearme，CharlottahasforgottentodustthestairrailingAGAIN。IreallyMUST
speaktoheraboutit。\"
AnnewassittingontheporchstepswhenStephenIrvingcamedownthelaneandacrossthegarden。
\"Thisistheoneplacewheretimestandsstill，\"hesaid，lookingaroundhimwithdelightedeyes。\"ThereisnothingchangedaboutthishouseorgardensinceIwasheretwenty-fiveyearsago。
Itmakesmefeelyoungagain。\"
\"Youknowtimealwaysdoesstandstillinanenchantedpalace，\"saidAnneseriously。\"Itisonlywhentheprincecomesthatthingsbegintohappen。\"
Mr。Irvingsmiledalittlesadlyintoherupliftedface，allastarwithitsyouthandpromise。
\"Sometimestheprincecomestoolate，\"hesaid。HedidnotaskAnnetotranslateherremarkintoprose。Likeallkindredspiritshe\"understood。\"
\"Oh，no，notifheistherealprincecomingtothetrueprincess，\"
saidAnne，shakingherredheaddecidedly，assheopenedtheparlordoor。
WhenhehadgoneinsheshutittightlybehindhimandturnedtoconfrontCharlottatheFourth，whowasinthehall，all\"nodsandbecksandwreathedsmiles。\"
\"Oh，MissShirley，ma’am，\"shebreathed，\"Ipeekedfromthekitchenwindow……andhe’sawfulhandsome……andjusttherightageforMissLavendar。Andoh，MissShirley，ma’am，doyouthinkitwouldbemuchharmtolistenatthedoor？\"
\"Itwouldbedreadful，Charlotta，\"saidAnnefirmly，\"sojustyoucomeawaywithmeoutofthereachoftemptation。\"
\"Ican’tdoanything，andit’sawfultohangroundjustwaiting，\"sighedCharlotta。\"Whatifhedon’tproposeafterall，MissShirley，ma’am？
Youcanneverbesureofthemmen。Myoldersister，CharlottatheFirst，thoughtshewasengagedtooneonce。ButitturnedoutHEhadadifferentopinionandshesaysshe’llnevertrustoneofthemagain。
AndIheardofanothercasewhereamanthoughthewantedonegirlawfulbadwhenitwasreallyhersisterhewantedallthetime。
Whenamandon’tknowhisownmind，MissShirley，ma’am，how’sapoorwomangoingtobesureofit？\"
\"We’llgotothekitchenandcleanthesilverspoons，\"saidAnne。
\"That’sataskwhichwon’trequiremuchthinkingfortunately……
forICOULDN’Tthinktonight。Anditwillpassthetime。\"
Itpassedanhour。Then，justasAnnelaiddownthelastshiningspoon，theyheardthefrontdoorshut。Bothsoughtcomfortfearfullyineachother’seyes。
\"Oh，MissShirley，ma’am，\"gaspedCharlotta，\"ifhe’sgoingawaythisearlythere’snothingintoitandneverwillbe。\"Theyflewtothewindow。
Mr。Irvinghadnointentionofgoingaway。HeandMissLavendarwerestrollingslowlydownthemiddlepathtothestonebench。
\"Oh，MissShirley，ma’am，he’sgothisarmaroundherwaist，\"
whisperedCharlottatheFourthdelightedly。\"Hemusthaveproposedtoherorshe’dneverallowit。\"
AnnecaughtCharlottatheFourthbyherownplumpwaistanddancedheraroundthekitchenuntiltheywerebothoutofbreath。
\"Oh，Charlotta，\"shecriedgaily，\"I’mneitheraprophetessnorthedaughterofaprophetessbutI’mgoingtomakeaprediction。
There’llbeaweddinginthisoldstonehousebeforethemapleleavesarered。Doyouwantthattranslatedintoprose，Charlotta？\"
\"No，Icanunderstandthat，\"saidCharlotta。\"Aweddingain’tpoetry。Why，MissShirley，ma’am，you’recrying！Whatfor？\"
\"Oh，becauseit’sallsobeautiful……andstorybookish……andromantic……andsad，\"saidAnne，winkingthetearsoutofhereyes。\"It’sallperfectlylovely……butthere’salittlesadnessmixedupinittoo，somehow。\"
\"Oh，ofcoursethere’sareskinmarryinganybody，\"concededCharlottatheFourth，\"but，whenall’ssaidanddone，MissShirley，ma’am，there’smanyaworsethingthanahusband。\"
XXIX
PoetryandProseForthenextmonthAnnelivedinwhat，forAvonlea，mightbecalledawhirlofexcitement。ThepreparationofherownmodestoutfitforRedmondwasofsecondaryimportance。MissLavendarwasgettingreadytobemarriedandthestonehousewasthesceneofendlessconsultationsandplanningsanddiscussions，withCharlottatheFourthhoveringontheoutskirtsofthingsinagitateddelightandwonder。
Thenthedressmakercame，andtherewastheraptureandwretchednessofchoosingfashionsandbeingfitted。AnneandDianaspenthalftheirtimeatEchoLodgeandtherewerenightswhenAnnecouldnotsleepforwonderingwhethershehaddonerightinadvisingMissLavendartoselectbrownratherthannavyblueforhertravelingdress，andtohavehergraysilkmadeprincess。
EverybodyconcernedinMissLavendar’sstorywasveryhappy。
PaulIrvingrushedtoGreenGablestotalkthenewsoverwithAnneassoonashisfatherhadtoldhim。
\"IknewIcouldtrustfathertopickmeoutanicelittlesecondmother，\"
hesaidproudly。\"It’safinethingtohaveafatheryoucandependon，teacher。IjustloveMissLavendar。Grandmaispleased，too。Shesaysshe’srealgladfatherdidn’tpickoutanAmericanforhissecondwife，because，althoughitturnedoutallrightthefirsttime，suchathingwouldn’tbelikelytohappentwice。Mrs。LyndesaysshethoroughlyapprovesofthematchandthinksitslikelyMissLavendarwillgiveupherqueernotionsandbelikeotherpeople，nowthatshe’sgoingtobemarried。ButIhopeshewon’tgiveherqueernotionsup，teacher，becauseIlikethem。AndIdon’twanthertobelikeotherpeople。
Therearetoomanyotherpeoplearoundasitis。YOUknow，teacher。\"
CharlottatheFourthwasanotherradiantperson。
\"Oh，MissShirley，ma’am，ithasallturnedoutsobeautiful。
WhenMr。IrvingandMissLavendarcomebackfromtheirtowerI’mtogouptoBostonandlivewiththem……andmeonlyfifteen，andtheothergirlsneverwenttilltheyweresixteen。Ain’tMr。Irvingsplendid？Hejustworshipsthegroundshetreadsonanditmakesmefeelsoqueersometimestoseethelookinhiseyeswhenhe’swatchingher。Itbeggarsdescription，MissShirley，ma’am。
I’mawfulthankfulthey’resofondofeachother。It’sthebestway，whenall’ssaidanddone，thoughsomefolkscangetalongwithoutit。
I’vegotanauntwhohasbeenmarriedthreetimesandsaysshemarriedthefirsttimeforloveandthelasttwotimesforstrictlybusiness，andwashappywithallthreeexceptatthetimesofthefunerals。
ButIthinkshetookaresk，MissShirley，ma’am。\"
\"Oh，it’sallsoromantic，\"breathedAnnetoMarillathatnight。
\"IfIhadn’ttakenthewrongpaththatdaywewenttoMr。Kimball’sI’dneverhaveknownMissLavendar；andifIhadn’tmetherI’dneverhavetakenPaulthere……andhe’dneverhavewrittentohisfatheraboutvisitingMissLavendarjustasMr。IrvingwasstartingforSanFrancisco。Mr。IrvingsayswheneverhegotthatletterhemadeuphismindtosendhispartnertoSanFranciscoandcomehereinstead。
Hehadn’theardanythingofMissLavendarforfifteenyears。Somebodyhadtoldhimthenthatshewastobemarriedandhethoughtshewasandneveraskedanybodyanythingabouther。Andnoweverythinghascomeright。
AndIhadahandinbringingitabout。Perhaps，asMrs。Lyndesays，everythingisforeordainedanditwasboundtohappenanyway。Butevenso，it’snicetothinkonewasaninstrumentusedbypredestination。Yesindeed，it’sveryromantic。\"
\"Ican’tseethatit’ssoterriblyromanticatall，\"saidMarillarathercrisply。MarillathoughtAnnewastooworkedupaboutitandhadplentytodowithgettingreadyforcollegewithout\"traipsing\"
toEchoLodgetwodaysoutofthreehelpingMissLavendar。\"Inthefirstplacetwoyoungfoolsquarrelandturnsulky；thenSteveIrvinggoestotheStatesandafteraspellgetsmarriedupthereandisperfectlyhappyfromallaccounts。Thenhiswifediesandafteradecentintervalhethinkshe’llcomehomeandseeifhisfirstfancy’llhavehim。Meanwhile，she’sbeenlivingsingle，probablybecausenobodyniceenoughcamealongtowanther，andtheymeetandagreetobemarriedafterall。Now，whereistheromanceinallthat？\"
\"Oh，thereisn’tany，whenyouputitthatway，\"gaspedAnne，ratherasifsomebodyhadthrowncoldwateroverher。\"Isupposethat’showitlooksinprose。Butit’sverydifferentifyoulookatitthroughpoetry……and_I_thinkit’snicer……\"Annerecoveredherselfandhereyesshoneandhercheeksflushed……\"tolookatitthroughpoetry。\"
Marillaglancedattheradiantyoungfaceandrefrainedfromfurthersarcasticcomments。Perhapssomerealizationcametoherthatafterallitwasbettertohave，likeAnne，\"thevisionandthefacultydivine\"……thatgiftwhichtheworldcannotbestowortakeaway，oflookingatlifethroughsometransfiguring……orrevealing？……medium，wherebyeverythingseemedapparelledincelestiallight，wearingagloryandafreshnessnotvisibletothosewho，likeherselfandCharlottatheFourth，lookedatthingsonlythroughprose。
\"When’stheweddingtobe？\"sheaskedafterapause。
\"ThelastWednesdayinAugust。Theyaretobemarriedinthegardenunderthehoneysuckletrellis……theveryspotwhereMr。Irvingproposedtohertwenty-fiveyearsago。Marilla，thatISromantic，eveninprose。There’stobenobodythereexceptMrs。IrvingandPaulandGilbertandDianaandI，andMissLavendar’scousins。Andtheywillleaveonthesixo’clocktrainforatriptothePacificcoast。WhentheycomebackinthefallPaulandCharlottatheFourtharetogouptoBostontolivewiththem。
ButEchoLodgeistobeleftjustasitis……onlyofcoursethey’llsellthehensandcow，andboardupthewindows……andeverysummerthey’recomingdowntoliveinit。I’msoglad。ItwouldhavehurtmedreadfullynextwinteratRedmondtothinkofthatdearstonehouseallstrippedanddeserted，withemptyrooms……orfarworsestill，withotherpeoplelivinginit。ButIcanthinkofitnow，justasI’vealwaysseenit，waitinghappilyforthesummertobringlifeandlaughterbacktoitagain。\"
Therewasmoreromanceintheworldthanthatwhichhadfallentotheshareofthemiddle-agedloversofthestonehouse。
AnnestumbledsuddenlyonitoneeveningwhenshewentovertoOrchardSlopebythewoodcutandcameoutintotheBarrygarden。
DianaBarryandFredWrightwerestandingtogetherunderthebigwillow。
Dianawasleaningagainstthegraytrunk，herlashescastdownonverycrimsoncheeks。OnehandwasheldbyFred，whostoodwithhisfacebenttowardher，stammeringsomethinginlowearnesttones。
Therewerenootherpeopleintheworldexcepttheirtwoselvesatthatmagicmoment；soneitherofthemsawAnne，who，afteronedazedglanceofcomprehension，turnedandspednoiselesslybackthroughthesprucewood，neverstoppingtillshegainedherowngableroom，whereshesatbreathlesslydownbyherwindowandtriedtocollectherscatteredwits。
\"DianaandFredareinlovewitheachother，\"shegasped。
\"Oh，itdoesseemso……so……soHOPELESSLYgrownup。\"
Anne，oflate，hadnotbeenwithouthersuspicionsthatDianawasprovingfalsetothemelancholyByronicheroofherearlydreams。
Butas\"thingsseenaremightierthanthingsheard，\"orsuspected，therealizationthatitwasactuallysocametoherwithalmosttheshockofperfectsurprise。Thiswassucceededbyaqueer，littlelonelyfeeling……asif，somehow，Dianahadgoneforwardintoanewworld，shuttingagatebehindher，leavingAnneontheoutside。
\"Thingsarechangingsofastitalmostfrightensme，\"Annethought，alittlesadly。\"AndI’mafraidthatthiscan’thelpmakingsomedifferencebetweenDianaandme。I’msureIcan’ttellherallmysecretsafterthis……shemighttellFred。AndwhatCANsheseeinFred？He’sveryniceandjolly……buthe’sjustFredWright。\"
Itisalwaysaverypuzzlingquestion……whatcansomebodyseeinsomebodyelse？Buthowfortunateafterallthatitisso，forifeverybodysawalike……well，inthatcase，astheoldIndiansaid，\"Everybodywouldwantmysquaw。\"ItwasplainthatDianaDIDseesomethinginFredWright，howeverAnne’seyesmightbeholden。
DianacametoGreenGablesthenextevening，apensive，shyyounglady，andtoldAnnethewholestoryintheduskyseclusionoftheeastgable。Bothgirlscriedandkissedandlaughed。
\"I’msohappy，\"saidDiana，\"butitdoesseemridiculoustothinkofmebeingengaged。\"
\"Whatisitreallyliketobeengaged？\"askedAnnecuriously。
\"Well，thatalldependsonwhoyou’reengagedto，\"answeredDiana，withthatmaddeningairofsuperiorwisdomalwaysassumedbythosewhoareengagedoverthosewhoarenot。\"It’sperfectlylovelytobeengagedtoFred……butIthinkitwouldbesimplyhorridtobeengagedtoanyoneelse。\"
\"There’snotmuchcomfortfortherestofusinthat，seeingthatthereisonlyoneFred，\"laughedAnne。
\"Oh，Anne，youdon’tunderstand，\"saidDianainvexation。\"Ididn’tmeanTHAT……it’ssohardtoexplain。Nevermind，you’llunderstandsometime，whenyourownturncomes。\"
\"Blessyou，dearestofDianas，Iunderstandnow。Whatisanimaginationforifnottoenableyoutopeepatlifethroughotherpeople’seyes？\"
\"Youmustbemybridesmaid，youknow，Anne。Promisemethat……
whereveryoumaybewhenI’mmarried。\"
\"I’llcomefromtheendsoftheearthifnecessary，\"promisedAnnesolemnly。
\"Ofcourse，itwon’tbeforeversolongyet，\"saidDiana，blushing。
\"Threeyearsattheveryleast……forI’monlyeighteenandmothersaysnodaughterofhersshallbemarriedbeforeshe’stwenty-one。
Besides，Fred’sfatherisgoingtobuytheAbrahamFletcherfarmforhimandhesayshe’sgottohaveittwothirdspaidforbeforehe’llgiveittohiminhisownname。Butthreeyearsisn’tanytoomuchtimetogetreadyforhousekeeping，forIhaven’taspeckoffancyworkmadeyet。ButI’mgoingtobegincrochetingdoiliestomorrow。
MyraGillishadthirty-sevendoilieswhenshewasmarriedandI’mdeterminedIshallhaveasmanyasshehad。\"
\"Isupposeitwouldbeperfectlyimpossibletokeephousewithonlythirty-sixdoilies，\"concededAnne，withasolemnfacebutdancingeyes。
Dianalookedhurt。
\"Ididn’tthinkyou’dmakefunofme，Anne，\"shesaidreproachfully。
\"Dearest，Iwasn’tmakingfunofyou，\"criedAnnerepentantly。
\"Iwasonlyteasingyouabit。Ithinkyou’llmakethesweetestlittlehousekeeperintheworld。AndIthinkit’sperfectlylovelyofyoutobeplanningalreadyforyourhomeo’dreams。\"
Annehadnosoonerutteredthephrase，\"homeo’dreams，\"thanitcaptivatedherfancyandsheimmediatelybegantheerectionofoneofherown。Itwas，ofcourse，tenantedbyanidealmaster，dark，proud，andmelancholy；butoddlyenough，GilbertBlythepersistedinhangingabouttoo，helpingherarrangepictures，layoutgardens，andaccomplishsundryothertaskswhichaproudandmelancholyheroevidentlyconsideredbeneathhisdignity。AnnetriedtobanishGilbert’simagefromhercastleinSpainbut，somehow，hewentonbeingthere，soAnne，beinginahurry，gaveuptheattemptandpursuedheraerialarchitecturewithsuchsuccessthather\"homeo’dreams\"wasbuiltandfurnishedbeforeDianaspokeagain。
\"Isuppose，Anne，youmustthinkit’sfunnyIshouldlikeFredsowellwhenhe’ssodifferentfromthekindofmanI’vealwayssaidI
wouldmarry……thetall，slenderkind？ButsomehowIwouldn’twantFredtobetallandslender……because，don’tyousee，hewouldn’tbeFredthen。Ofcourse，\"addedDianaratherdolefully，\"wewillbeadreadfullypudgycouple。Butafterallthat’sbetterthanoneofusbeingshortandfatandtheothertallandlean，likeMorganSloaneandhiswife。Mrs。Lyndesaysitalwaysmakesherthinkofthelongandshortofitwhensheseesthemtogether。\"
\"Well，\"saidAnnetoherselfthatnight，asshebrushedherhairbeforehergiltframedmirror，\"IamgladDianaissohappyandsatisfied。Butwhenmyturncomes……ifiteverdoes……Idohopethere’llbesomethingalittlemorethrillingaboutit。ButthenDianathoughtsotoo，once。I’veheardhersaytimeandagainshe’dnevergetengagedanypokycommonplaceway……he’dHAVEtodosomethingsplendidtowinher。Butshehaschanged。PerhapsI’llchangetoo。ButIwon’t……andI’mdeterminedIwon’t。Oh，Ithinktheseengagementsaredreadfullyunsettlingthingswhentheyhappentoyourintimatefriends。\"
XXX
AWeddingattheStoneHouseThelastweekinAugustcame。MissLavendarwastobemarriedinit。
TwoweekslaterAnneandGilbertwouldleaveforRedmondCollege。
Inaweek’stimeMrs。RachelLyndewouldmovetoGreenGablesandsetupherlaresandpenatesintheerstwhilespareroom，whichwasalreadypreparedforhercoming。ShehadsoldallhersuperfluoushouseholdplenishingsbyauctionandwasatpresentrevelinginthecongenialoccupationofhelpingtheAllanspackup。Mr。AllanwastopreachhisfarewellsermonthenextSunday。Theoldorderwaschangingrapidlytogiveplacetothenew，asAnnefeltwithalittlesadnessthreadingallherexcitementandhappiness。
\"Changesain’ttotallypleasantbutthey’reexcellentthings，\"
saidMr。Harrisonphilosophically。\"Twoyearsisaboutlongenoughforthingstostayexactlythesame。Iftheystayedputanylongertheymightgrowmossy。\"
Mr。Harrisonwassmokingonhisveranda。Hiswifehadself-sacrificinglytoldthathemightsmokeinthehouseifhetookcaretositbyanopenwindow。Mr。Harrisonrewardedthisconcessionbygoingoutdoorsaltogethertosmokeinfineweather，andsomutualgoodwillreigned。
AnnehadcomeovertoaskMrs。Harrisonforsomeofheryellowdahlias。
SheandDianaweregoingthroughtoEchoLodgethateveningtohelpMissLavendarandCharlottatheFourthwiththeirfinalpreparationsforthemorrow’sbridal。MissLavendarherselfneverhaddahlias；
shedidnotlikethemandtheywouldnothavesuitedthefineretirementofherold-fashionedgarden。ButflowersofanykindwereratherscarceinAvonleaandtheneighboringdistrictsthatsummer，thankstoUncleAbe’sstorm；andAnneandDianathoughtthatacertainoldcream-coloredstonejug，usuallykeptsacredtodoughnuts，brimmedoverwithyellowdahlias，wouldbejustthethingtosetinadimangleofthestonehousestairs，againstthedarkbackgroundofredhallpaper。
\"Is’poseyou’llbestartingoffforcollegeinafortnight’stime？\"
continuedMr。Harrison。\"Well，we’regoingtomissyouanawfullot，Emilyandme。Tobesure，Mrs。Lynde’llbeoverthereinyourplace。
Thereain’tnobodybutasubstitutecanbefoundforthem。\"
TheironyofMr。Harrison’stoneisquiteuntransferabletopaper。
Inspiteofhiswife’sintimacywithMrs。Lynde，thebestthatcouldbesaidoftherelationshipbetweenherandMr。Harrisonevenunderthenewregime，wasthattheypreservedanarmedneutrality。
\"Yes，I’mgoing，\"saidAnne。\"I’mverygladwithmyhead……andverysorrywithmyheart。\"
\"Is’poseyou’llbescoopingupallthehonorsthatarelyingroundlooseatRedmond。\"
\"Imaytryforoneortwoofthem，\"confessedAnne，\"butI
don’tcaresomuchforthingslikethatasIdidtwoyearsago。
WhatIwanttogetoutofmycollegecourseissomeknowledgeofthebestwayoflivinglifeanddoingthemostandbestwithit。
Iwanttolearntounderstandandhelpotherpeopleandmyself。\"
Mr。Harrisonnodded。
\"That’stheideaexactly。That’swhatcollegeoughttobefor，insteadofforturningoutalotofB。A。’s，sochockfullofbook-learningandvanitythatthereain’troomforanythingelse。
You’reallright。Collegewon’tbeabletodoyoumuchharm，Ireckon。\"
DianaandAnnedroveovertoEchoLodgeaftertea，takingwiththemallthefloweryspoilthatseveralpredatoryexpeditionsintheirownandtheirneighbors’gardenshadyielded。Theyfoundthestonehouseagogwithexcitement。CharlottatheFourthwasflyingaroundwithsuchvimandbrisknessthatherbluebowsseemedreallytopossessthepowerofbeingeverywhereatonce。LikethehelmetofNavarre，Charlotta’sbluebowswavedeverinthethickestofthefray。
\"Praisebetogoodnessyou’vecome，\"shesaiddevoutly，\"forthere’sheapsofthingstodo……andthefrostingonthatcakeWON’Tharden……andthere’sallthesilvertoberubbedupyet……
andthehorsehairtrunktobepacked……andtheroostersforthechickensaladarerunningouttherebeyantthehenhouseyet，crowing，MissShirley，ma’am。AndMissLavendarain’ttobetrustedtodoathing。IwasthankfulwhenMr。Irvingcameafewminutesagoandtookheroffforawalkinthewoods。
Courting’sallrightinitsplace，MissShirley，ma’am，butifyoutrytomixitupwithcookingandscouringeverything’sspoiled。
That’sMYopinion，MissShirley，ma’am。\"
AnneandDianaworkedsoheartilythatbyteno’clockevenCharlottatheFourthwassatisfied。Shebraidedherhairininnumerableplaitsandtookherwearylittlebonesofftobed。
\"ButI’msureIshan’tsleepablessedwink，MissShirley，ma’am，forfearthatsomething’llgowrongatthelastminute……thecreamwon’twhip……orMr。Irving’llhaveastrokeandnotbeabletocome。\"
\"Heisn’tinthehabitofhavingstrokes，ishe？\"askedDiana，thedimpledcornersofhermouthtwitching。ToDiana，CharlottatheFourthwas，ifnotexactlyathingofbeauty，certainlyajoyforever。
\"They’renotthingsthatgobyhabit，\"saidCharlottatheFourthwithdignity。\"TheyjustHAPPEN……andthereyouare。ANYBODY
canhaveastroke。Youdon’thavetolearnhow。Mr。Irvinglooksalotlikeanuncleofminethathadoneoncejustashewassittingdowntodinneroneday。Butmaybeeverything’llgoallright。Inthisworldyou’vejustgottohopeforthebestandpreparefortheworstandtakewhateverGodsends。\"
\"TheonlythingI’mworriedaboutisthatitwon’tbefinetomorrow，\"
saidDiana。\"UncleAbepredictedrainforthemiddleoftheweek，andeversincethebigstormIcan’thelpbelievingthere’sagooddealinwhatUncleAbesays。\"
Anne，whoknewbetterthanDianajusthowmuchUncleAbehadtodowiththestorm，wasnotmuchdisturbedbythis。Shesleptthesleepofthejustandweary，andwasrousedatanunearthlyhourbyCharlottatheFourth。
\"Oh，MissShirley，ma’am，it’sawfultocallyousoearly，\"camewailingthroughthekeyhole，\"butthere’ssomuchtodoyet……andoh，MissShirley，ma’am，I’mskeeredit’sgoingtorainandIwishyou’dgetupandtellmeyouthinkitain’t。\"Anneflewtothewindow，hopingagainsthopethatCharlottatheFourthwassayingthismerelybywayofrousinghereffectually。Butalas，themorningdidlookunpropitious。BelowthewindowMissLavendar’sgarden，whichshouldhavebeenagloryofpalevirginsunshine，laydimandwindless；andtheskyoverthefirswasdarkwithmoodyclouds。
\"Isn’tittoomean！\"saidDiana。
\"Wemusthopeforthebest，\"saidAnnedeterminedly。\"Ifitonlydoesn’tactuallyrain，acool，pearlygraydaylikethiswouldreallybenicerthanhotsunshine。\"
\"Butitwillrain，\"mournedCharlotta，creepingintotheroom，afigureoffun，withhermanybraidswoundaboutherhead，theends，tiedupwithwhitethread，stickingoutinalldirections。\"It’llholdofftillthelastminuteandthenpourcatsanddogs。Andallthefolkswillgetsopping……andtrackmudalloverthehouse……
andtheywon’tbeabletobemarriedunderthehoneysuckle……andit’sawfulunluckyfornosuntoshineonabride，saywhatyouwill，MissShirley，ma’am。_I_knewthingsweregoingtoowelltolast。\"
CharlottatheFourthseemedcertainlytohaveborrowedaleafoutofMissElizaAndrews’book。
Itdidnotrain，thoughitkeptonlookingasifitmeantto。
Bynoontheroomsweredecorated，thetablebeautifullylaid；
andupstairswaswaitingabride，\"adornedforherhusband。\"
\"Youdolooksweet，\"saidAnnerapturously。
\"Lovely，\"echoedDiana。
\"Everything’sready，MissShirley，ma’am，andnothingdreadfulhashappenedYET，\"wasCharlotta’scheerfulstatementasshebetookherselftoherlittlebackroomtodress。Outcameallthebraids；
theresultantrampantcrinklinesswasplaitedintotwotailsandtied，notwithtwobowsalone，butwithfour，ofbrand-newribbon，brightlyblue。ThetwoupperbowsrathergavetheimpressionofovergrownwingssproutingfromCharlotta’sneck，somewhatafterthefashionofRaphael’scherubs。ButCharlottatheFourththoughtthemverybeautiful，andaftershehadrustledintoawhitedress，sostifflystarchedthatitcouldstandalone，shesurveyedherselfinherglasswithgreatsatisfaction……asatisfactionwhichlasteduntilshewentoutinthehallandcaughtaglimpsethroughthespareroomdoorofatallgirlinsomesoftlyclinginggown，pinningwhite，star-likeflowersonthesmoothripplesofherruddyhair。
\"Oh，I’llNEVERbeabletolooklikeMissShirley，\"thoughtpoorCharlottadespairingly。\"Youjusthavetobebornso，Iguess……
don’tseem’sifanyamountofpracticecouldgiveyouthatAIR。\"
Byoneo’clocktheguestshadcome，includingMr。andMrs。Allan，forMr。AllanwastoperformtheceremonyintheabsenceoftheGraftonministeronhisvacation。Therewasnoformalityaboutthemarriage。MissLavendarcamedownthestairstomeetherbridegroomatthefoot，andashetookherhandsheliftedherbigbrowneyestohiswithalookthatmadeCharlottatheFourth，whointerceptedit，feelqueererthanever。Theywentouttothehoneysucklearbor，whereMr。Allanwasawaitingthem。Theguestsgroupedthemselvesastheypleased。AnneandDianastoodbytheoldstonebench，withCharlottatheFourthbetweenthem，desperatelyclutchingtheirhandsinhercold，tremulouslittlepaws。
Mr。Allanopenedhisbluebookandtheceremonyproceeded。JustasMissLavendarandStephenIrvingwerepronouncedmanandwifeaverybeautifulandsymbolicthinghappened。Thesunsuddenlyburstthroughthegrayandpouredafloodofradianceonthehappybride。Instantlythegardenwasalivewithdancingshadowsandflickeringlights。
\"Whatalovelyomen，\"thoughtAnne，assherantokissthebride。
Thenthethreegirlslefttherestoftheguestslaughingaroundthebridalpairwhiletheyflewintothehousetoseethatallwasinreadinessforthefeast。
\"Thanksbetogoodness，it’sover，MissShirley，ma’am，\"breathedCharlottatheFourth，\"andthey’remarriedsafeandsound，nomatterwhathappensnow。Thebagsofriceareinthepantry，ma’am，andtheoldshoesarebehindthedoor，andthecreamforwhippingisonthesullarsteps。\"
AthalfpasttwoMr。andMrs。Irvingleft，andeverybodywenttoBrightRivertoseethemoffontheafternoontrain。AsMissLavendar……Ibegherpardon，Mrs。Irving……steppedfromthedoorofheroldhomeGilbertandthegirlsthrewthericeandCharlottatheFourthhurledanoldshoewithsuchexcellentaimthatshestruckMr。Allansquarelyonthehead。ButitwasreservedforPaultogivetheprettiestsend-off。Hepoppedoutoftheporchringingfuriouslyahugeoldbrassdinnerbellwhichhadadornedthediningroommantel。Paul’sonlymotivewastomakeajoyfulnoise；butastheclangordiedaway，frompointandcurveandhillacrosstherivercamethechimeof\"fairyweddingbells，\"
ringingclearly，sweetly，faintlyandmorefaint，asifMissLavendar’sbelovedechoeswerebiddinghergreetingandfarewell。
Andso，amidthisbenedictionofsweetsounds，MissLavendardroveawayfromtheoldlifeofdreamsandmake-believestoafullerlifeofrealitiesinthebusyworldbeyond。
TwohourslaterAnneandCharlottatheFourthcamedownthelaneagain。
GilberthadgonetoWestGraftononanerrandandDianahadtokeepanengagementathome。AnneandCharlottahadcomebacktoputthingsinorderandlockupthelittlestonehouse。Thegardenwasapooloflategoldensunshine，withbutterflieshoveringandbeesbooming；
butthelittlehousehadalreadythatindefinableairofdesolationwhichalwaysfollowsafestivity。
\"Ohdearme，don’titlooklonesome？\"sniffedCharlottatheFourth，whohadbeencryingallthewayhomefromthestation。\"Aweddingain’tmuchcheerfullerthanafuneralafterall，whenit’sallover，MissShirley，ma’am。\"
Abusyeveningfollowed。Thedecorationshadtoberemoved，thedisheswashed，theuneatendelicaciespackedintoabasketforthedelectationofCharlottatheFourth’syoungbrothersathome。
Annewouldnotrestuntileverythingwasinapple-pieorder；afterCharlottahadgonehomewithherplunderAnnewentoverthestillrooms，feelinglikeonewhotrodalonesomebanquethalldeserted，andclosedtheblinds。ThenshelockedthedoorandsatdownunderthesilverpoplartowaitforGilbert，feelingverytiredbutstillunweariedlythinking\"long，longthoughts。\"
\"Whatareyouthinkingof，Anne？\"askedGilbert，comingdownthewalk。Hehadlefthishorseandbuggyoutattheroad。
\"OfMissLavendarandMr。Irving，\"answeredAnnedreamily。\"Isn’titbeautifultothinkhoweverythinghasturnedout……howtheyhavecometogetheragainafteralltheyearsofseparationandmisunderstanding？\"
\"Yes，it’sbeautiful，\"saidGilbert，lookingsteadilydownintoAnne’supliftedface，\"butwouldn’tithavebeenmorebeautifulstill，Anne，iftherehadbeenNOseparationormisunderstanding……
iftheyhadcomehandinhandallthewaythroughlife，withnomemoriesbehindthembutthosewhichbelongedtoeachother？\"
ForamomentAnne’sheartflutteredqueerlyandforthefirsttimehereyesfalteredunderGilbert’sgazeandarosyflushstainedthepalenessofherface。Itwasasifaveilthathadhungbeforeherinnerconsciousnesshadbeenlifted，givingtoherviewarevelationofunsuspectedfeelingsandrealities。Perhaps，afterall，romancedidnotcomeintoone’slifewithpompandblare，likeagayknightridingdown；perhapsitcrepttoone’ssidelikeanoldfriendthroughquietways；perhapsitrevealeditselfinseemingprose，untilsomesuddenshaftofilluminationflungathwartitspagesbetrayedtherhythmandthemusic，perhaps……
perhaps……loveunfoldednaturallyoutofabeautifulfriendship，asagolden-heartedroseslippingfromitsgreensheath。
Thentheveildroppedagain；buttheAnnewhowalkedupthedarklanewasnotquitethesameAnnewhohaddrivengailydownittheeveningbefore。Thepageofgirlhoodhadbeenturned，asbyanunseenfinger，andthepageofwomanhoodwasbeforeherwithallitscharmandmystery，itspainandgladness。
Gilbertwiselysaidnothingmore；butinhissilencehereadthehistoryofthenextfouryearsinthelightofAnne’srememberedblush。Fouryearsofearnest，happywork……andthentheguerdonofausefulknowledgegainedandasweetheartwon。
Behindtheminthegardenthelittlestonehousebroodedamongtheshadows。Itwaslonelybutnotforsaken。Ithadnotyetdonewithdreamsandlaughterandthejoyoflife；thereweretobefuturesummersforthelittlestonehouse；meanwhile，itcouldwait。Andovertheriverinpurpledurancetheechoesbidedtheirtime。
End
