Sheneverforgotthatday；itwassobrightandgoldenandfair，sofreefromshadowandsolavishofblossom。Annespentsomeofitsrichhoursintheorchard；shewenttotheDryad’sBubbleandWillowmereandVioletVale；shecalledatthemanseandhadasatisfyingtalkwithMrs。Allan；andfinallyintheeveningshewentwithMatthewforthecows，throughLovers’Lanetothebackpasture。Thewoodswereallgloriedthroughwithsunsetandthewarmsplendorofitstreameddownthroughthehillgapsinthewest。Matthewwalkedslowlywithbenthead；Anne，tallanderect，suitedherspringingsteptohis。
\"You’vebeenworkingtoohardtoday，Matthew，\"shesaidreproachfully。\"Whywon’tyoutakethingseasier？\"
\"Wellnow，Ican’tseemto，\"saidMatthew，asheopenedtheyardgatetoletthecowsthrough。\"It’sonlythatI’mgettingold，Anne，andkeepforgettingit。Well，well，I’vealwaysworkedprettyhardandI’dratherdropinharness。\"
\"IfIhadbeentheboyyousentfor，\"saidAnnewistfully，\"I’dbeabletohelpyousomuchnowandspareyouinahundredways。IcouldfinditinmyhearttowishIhadbeen，justforthat。\"
\"Wellnow，I’dratherhaveyouthanadozenboys，Anne，\"
saidMatthewpattingherhand。\"Justmindyouthat——
ratherthanadozenboys。Wellnow，Iguessitwasn’taboythattooktheAveryscholarship，wasit？Itwasagirl——mygirl——mygirlthatI’mproudof。\"
Hesmiledhisshysmileatherashewentintotheyard。
Annetookthememoryofitwithherwhenshewenttoherroomthatnightandsatforalongwhileatheropenwindow，thinkingofthepastanddreamingofthefuture。
OutsidetheSnowQueenwasmistilywhiteinthemoonshine；
thefrogsweresinginginthemarshbeyondOrchardSlope。
Annealwaysrememberedthesilvery，peacefulbeautyandfragrantcalmofthatnight。Itwasthelastnightbeforesorrowtouchedherlife；andnolifeiseverquitethesameagainwhenoncethatcold，sanctifyingtouchhasbeenlaiduponit。
CHAPTERXXXVII
TheReaperWhoseNameIsDeath\"Matthew——Matthew——whatisthematter？Matthew，areyousick？\"
ItwasMarillawhospoke，alarmineveryjerkyword。Annecamethroughthehall，herhandsfullofwhitenarcissus，——itwaslongbeforeAnnecouldlovethesightorodorofwhitenarcissusagain，——intimetohearherandtoseeMatthewstandingintheporchdoorway，afoldedpaperinhishand，andhisfacestrangelydrawnandgray。AnnedroppedherflowersandsprangacrossthekitchentohimatthesamemomentasMarilla。Theywerebothtoolate；beforetheycouldreachhimMatthewhadfallenacrossthethreshold。
\"He’sfainted，\"gaspedMarilla。\"Anne，runforMartin——
quick，quick！He’satthebarn。\"
Martin，thehiredman，whohadjustdrivenhomefromthepostoffice，startedatonceforthedoctor，callingatOrchardSlopeonhiswaytosendMr。andMrs。Barryover。
Mrs。Lynde，whowasthereonanerrand，cametoo。TheyfoundAnneandMarilladistractedlytryingtorestoreMatthewtoconsciousness。
Mrs。Lyndepushedthemgentlyaside，triedhispulse，andthenlaidherearoverhisheart。Shelookedattheiranxiousfacessorrowfullyandthetearscameintohereyes。
\"Oh，Marilla，\"shesaidgravely。\"Idon’tthink——wecandoanythingforhim。\"
\"Mrs。Lynde，youdon’tthink——youcan’tthinkMatthewis——is——\"
Annecouldnotsaythedreadfulword；sheturnedsickandpallid。
\"Child，yes，I’mafraidofit。Lookathisface。Whenyou’veseenthatlookasoftenasIhaveyou’llknowwhatitmeans。\"
AnnelookedatthestillfaceandtherebeheldthesealoftheGreatPresence。
Whenthedoctorcamehesaidthatdeathhadbeeninstantaneousandprobablypainless，causedinalllikelihoodbysomesuddenshock。
ThesecretoftheshockwasdiscoveredtobeinthepaperMatthewhadheldandwhichMartinhadbroughtfromtheofficethatmorning。
ItcontainedanaccountofthefailureoftheAbbeyBank。
ThenewsspreadquicklythroughAvonlea，andalldayfriendsandneighborsthrongedGreenGablesandcameandwentonerrandsofkindnessforthedeadandliving。
Forthefirsttimeshy，quietMatthewCuthbertwasapersonofcentralimportance；thewhitemajestyofdeathhadfallenonhimandsethimapartasonecrowned。
WhenthecalmnightcamesoftlydownoverGreenGablestheoldhousewashushedandtranquil。IntheparlorlayMatthewCuthbertinhiscoffin，hislonggrayhairframinghisplacidfaceonwhichtherewasalittlekindlysmileasifhebutslept，dreamingpleasantdreams。Therewereflowersabouthim——sweetold-fashionedflowerswhichhismotherhadplantedinthehomesteadgardeninherbridaldaysandforwhichMatthewhadalwayshadasecret，wordlesslove。
Annehadgatheredthemandbroughtthemtohim，heranguished，tearlesseyesburninginherwhiteface。Itwasthelastthingshecoulddoforhim。
TheBarrysandMrs。Lyndestayedwiththemthatnight。
Diana，goingtotheeastgable，whereAnnewasstandingatherwindow，saidgently:
\"Annedear，wouldyouliketohavemesleepwithyoutonight？\"
\"Thankyou，Diana。\"Annelookedearnestlyintoherfriend’sface。
\"Ithinkyouwon’tmisunderstandmewhenIsayIwanttobealone。
I’mnotafraid。Ihaven’tbeenaloneoneminutesinceithappened——
andIwanttobe。Iwanttobequitesilentandquietandtrytorealizeit。Ican’trealizeit。HalfthetimeitseemstomethatMatthewcan’tbedead；andtheotherhalfitseemsasifhemusthavebeendeadforalongtimeandI’vehadthishorribledullacheeversince。\"
Dianadidnotquiteunderstand。Marilla’simpassionedgrief，breakingalltheboundsofnaturalreserveandlifelonghabitinitsstormyrush，shecouldcomprehendbetterthanAnne’stearlessagony。Butshewentawaykindly，leavingAnnealonetokeepherfirstvigilwithsorrow。
Annehopedthatthetearswouldcomeinsolitude。ItseemedtoheraterriblethingthatshecouldnotshedatearforMatthew，whomshehadlovedsomuchandwhohadbeensokindtoher，Matthewwhohadwalkedwithherlasteveningatsunsetandwasnowlyinginthedimroombelowwiththatawfulpeaceonhisbrow。Butnotearscameatfirst，evenwhenshekneltbyherwindowinthedarknessandprayed，lookinguptothestarsbeyondthehills——notears，onlythesamehorribledullacheofmiserythatkeptonachinguntilshefellasleep，wornoutwiththeday’spainandexcitement。
Inthenightsheawakened，withthestillnessandthedarknessabouther，andtherecollectionofthedaycameoverherlikeawaveofsorrow。ShecouldseeMatthew’sfacesmilingatherashehadsmiledwhentheypartedatthegatethatlastevening——shecouldhearhisvoicesaying，\"Mygirl——mygirlthatI’mproudof。\"ThenthetearscameandAnneweptherheartout。Marillaheardherandcreptintocomforther。
\"There——there——don’tcryso，dearie。Itcan’tbringhimback。
It——it——isn’trighttocryso。Iknewthattoday，butI
couldn’thelpitthen。He’dalwaysbeensuchagood，kindbrothertome——butGodknowsbest。\"
\"Oh，justletmecry，Marilla，\"sobbedAnne。\"Thetearsdon’thurtmelikethatachedid。Stayhereforalittlewhilewithmeandkeepyourarmroundme——so。Icouldn’thaveDianastay，she’sgoodandkindandsweet——butit’snothersorrow——she’soutsideofitandshecouldn’tcomecloseenoughtomyhearttohelpme。It’soursorrow——
yoursandmine。Oh，Marilla，whatwillwedowithouthim？\"
\"We’vegoteachother，Anne。Idon’tknowwhatI’ddoifyouweren’there——ifyou’dnevercome。Oh，Anne，I
knowI’vebeenkindofstrictandharshwithyoumaybe——
butyoumustn’tthinkIdidn’tloveyouaswellasMatthewdid，forallthat。IwanttotellyounowwhenIcan。It’sneverbeeneasyformetosaythingsoutofmyheart，butattimeslikethisit’seasier。Iloveyouasdearasifyouweremyownfleshandbloodandyou’vebeenmyjoyandcomforteversinceyoucametoGreenGables。\"
TwodaysafterwardstheycarriedMatthewCuthbertoverhishomesteadthresholdandawayfromthefieldshehadtilledandtheorchardshehadlovedandthetreeshehadplanted；andthenAvonleasettledbacktoitsusualplacidityandevenatGreenGablesaffairsslippedintotheiroldgrooveandworkwasdoneanddutiesfulfilledwithregularityasbefore，althoughalwayswiththeachingsenseof\"lossinallfamiliarthings。\"Anne，newtogrief，thoughtitalmostsadthatitcouldbeso——thattheyCOULD
goonintheoldwaywithoutMatthew。Shefeltsomethinglikeshameandremorsewhenshediscoveredthatthesunrisesbehindthefirsandthepalepinkbudsopeninginthegardengavehertheoldinrushofgladnesswhenshesawthem——thatDiana’svisitswerepleasanttoherandthatDiana’smerrywordsandwaysmovedhertolaughterandsmiles——that，inbrief，thebeautifulworldofblossomandloveandfriendshiphadlostnoneofitspowertopleaseherfancyandthrillherheart，thatlifestillcalledtoherwithmanyinsistentvoices。
\"ItseemslikedisloyaltytoMatthew，somehow，tofindpleasureinthesethingsnowthathehasgone，\"shesaidwistfullytoMrs。Allanoneeveningwhentheyweretogetherinthemansegarden。\"Imisshimsomuch——allthetime——
andyet，Mrs。Allan，theworldandlifeseemverybeautifulandinterestingtomeforall。TodayDianasaidsomethingfunnyandIfoundmyselflaughing。IthoughtwhenithappenedIcouldneverlaughagain。AnditsomehowseemsasifIoughtn’tto。\"
\"WhenMatthewwasherehelikedtohearyoulaughandhelikedtoknowthatyoufoundpleasureinthepleasantthingsaroundyou，\"saidMrs。Allangently。
\"Heisjustawaynow；andhelikestoknowitjustthesame。
Iamsureweshouldnotshutourheartsagainstthehealinginfluencesthatnatureoffersus。ButIcanunderstandyourfeeling。Ithinkweallexperiencethesamething。
Weresentthethoughtthatanythingcanpleaseuswhensomeoneweloveisnolongerheretosharethepleasurewithus，andwealmostfeelasifwewereunfaithfultooursorrowwhenwefindourinterestinlifereturningtous。\"
\"IwasdowntothegraveyardtoplantarosebushonMatthew’sgravethisafternoon，\"saidAnnedreamily。
\"ItookaslipofthelittlewhiteScotchrosebushhismotherbroughtoutfromScotlandlongago；Matthewalwayslikedthoserosesthebest——theyweresosmallandsweetontheirthornystems。ItmademefeelgladthatIcouldplantitbyhisgrave——asifIweredoingsomethingthatmustpleasehimintakingittheretobenearhim。Ihopehehasrosesliketheminheaven。Perhapsthesoulsofallthoselittlewhiterosesthathehaslovedsomanysummerswerealltheretomeethim。Imustgohomenow。Marillaisallaloneandshegetslonelyattwilight。\"
\"Shewillbelonelierstill，Ifear，whenyougoawayagaintocollege，\"saidMrs。Allan。
Annedidnotreply；shesaidgoodnightandwentslowlybacktogreenGables。Marillawassittingonthefrontdoor-stepsandAnnesatdownbesideher。Thedoorwasopenbehindthem，heldbackbyabigpinkconchshellwithhintsofseasunsetsinitssmoothinnerconvolutions。
Annegatheredsomespraysofpale-yellowhoneysuckleandputtheminherhair。Shelikedthedelicioushintoffragrance，assomeaerialbenediction，abovehereverytimeshemoved。
\"DoctorSpencerwasherewhileyouwereaway，\"Marillasaid。
\"HesaysthatthespecialistwillbeintowntomorrowandheinsiststhatImustgoinandhavemyeyesexamined。
IsupposeI’dbettergoandhaveitover。I’llbemorethanthankfulifthemancangivemetherightkindofglassestosuitmyeyes。Youwon’tmindstayingherealonewhileI’maway，willyou？Martinwillhavetodrivemeinandthere’sironingandbakingtodo。\"
\"Ishallbeallright。Dianawillcomeoverforcompanyforme。Ishallattendtotheironingandbakingbeautifully——
youneedn’tfearthatI’llstarchthehandkerchiefsorflavorthecakewithliniment。\"
Marillalaughed。
\"Whatagirlyouwereformakingmistakesinthemdays，Anne。
Youwerealwaysgettingintoscrapes。Ididusetothinkyouwerepossessed。Doyoumindthetimeyoudyedyourhair？\"
\"Yes，indeed。Ishallneverforgetit，\"smiledAnne，touchingtheheavybraidofhairthatwaswoundabouthershapelyhead。\"IlaughalittlenowsometimeswhenI
thinkwhataworrymyhairusedtobetome——butIdon’tlaughMUCH，becauseitwasaveryrealtroublethen。
Ididsufferterriblyovermyhairandmyfreckles。
Myfrecklesarereallygone；andpeopleareniceenoughtotellmemyhairisauburnnow——allbutJosiePye。
Sheinformedmeyesterdaythatshereallythoughtitwasredderthanever，oratleastmyblackdressmadeitlookredder，andsheaskedmeifpeoplewhohadredhairevergotusedtohavingit。Marilla，I’vealmostdecidedtogiveuptryingtolikeJosiePye。I’vemadewhatIwouldoncehavecalledaheroicefforttolikeher，butJosiePyewon’tBEliked。\"
\"JosieisaPye，\"saidMarillasharply，\"soshecan’thelpbeingdisagreeable。Isupposepeopleofthatkindservesomeusefulpurposeinsociety，butImustsayIdon’tknowwhatitisanymorethanIknowtheuseofthistles。
IsJosiegoingtoteach？\"
\"No，sheisgoingbacktoQueen’snextyear。SoareMoodySpurgeonandCharlieSloane。JaneandRubyaregoingtoteachandtheyhavebothgotschools——JaneatNewbridgeandRubyatsomeplaceupwest。\"
\"GilbertBlytheisgoingtoteachtoo，isn’the？\"
\"Yes\"——briefly。
\"Whatanice-lookingfellowheis，\"saidMarillaabsently。
\"IsawhiminchurchlastSundayandheseemedsotallandmanly。
Helooksalotlikehisfatherdidatthesameage。JohnBlythewasaniceboy。Weusedtoberealgoodfriends，heandI。
Peoplecalledhimmybeau。\"
Annelookedupwithswiftinterest。
\"Oh，Marilla——andwhathappened？——whydidn’tyou——\"
\"Wehadaquarrel。Iwouldn’tforgivehimwhenheaskedmeto。
Imeantto，afterawhile——butIwassulkyandangryandIwantedtopunishhimfirst。Henevercameback——theBlytheswereallmightyindependent。ButIalwaysfelt——rathersorry。I’vealwayskindofwishedI’dforgivenhimwhenIhadthechance。\"
\"Soyou’vehadabitofromanceinyourlife，too，\"saidAnnesoftly。
\"Yes，Isupposeyoumightcallitthat。Youwouldn’tthinksotolookatme，wouldyou？Butyounevercantellaboutpeoplefromtheiroutsides。EverybodyhasforgotaboutmeandJohn。
I’dforgottenmyself。ButitallcamebacktomewhenIsawGilbertlastSunday。\"
CHAPTERXXXVIII
TheBendintheroadMarillawenttotownthenextdayandreturnedintheevening。AnnehadgoneovertoOrchardSlopewithDianaandcamebacktofindMarillainthekitchen，sittingbythetablewithherheadleaningonherhand。SomethinginherdejectedattitudestruckachilltoAnne’sheart。
ShehadneverseenMarillasitlimplyinertlikethat。
\"Areyouverytired，Marilla？\"
\"Yes——no——Idon’tknow，\"saidMarillawearily，lookingup。\"IsupposeIamtiredbutIhaven’tthoughtaboutit。
It’snotthat。\"
\"Didyouseetheoculist？Whatdidhesay？\"askedAnneanxiously。
\"Yes，Isawhim。Heexaminedmyeyes。HesaysthatifIgiveupallreadingandsewingentirelyandanykindofworkthatstrainstheeyes，andifI’mcarefulnottocry，andifIweartheglasseshe’sgivenmehethinksmyeyesmaynotgetanyworseandmyheadacheswillbecured。ButifIdon’thesaysI’llcertainlybestone-blindinsixmonths。Blind！Anne，justthinkofit！\"
ForaminuteAnne，afterherfirstquickexclamationofdismay，wassilent。ItseemedtoherthatshecouldNOT
speak。Thenshesaidbravely，butwithacatchinhervoice:
\"Marilla，DON’Tthinkofit。Youknowhehasgivenyouhope。
Ifyouarecarefulyouwon’tloseyoursightaltogether；
andifhisglassescureyourheadachesitwillbeagreatthing。\"
\"Idon’tcallitmuchhope，\"saidMarillabitterly。\"WhatamItoliveforifIcan’treadorsewordoanythinglikethat？Imightaswellbeblind——ordead。Andasforcrying，Ican’thelpthatwhenIgetlonesome。Butthere，it’snogoodtalkingaboutit。Ifyou’llgetmeacupofteaI’llbethankful。I’maboutdoneout。Don’tsayanythingaboutthistoanyoneforaspellyet，anyway。Ican’tbearthatfolksshouldcomeheretoquestionandsympathizeandtalkaboutit。\"
WhenMarillahadeatenherlunchAnnepersuadedhertogotobed。ThenAnnewentherselftotheeastgableandsatdownbyherwindowinthedarknessalonewithhertearsandherheavinessofheart。Howsadlythingshadchangedsinceshehadsattherethenightaftercominghome！Thenshehadbeenfullofhopeandjoyandthefuturehadlookedrosywithpromise。Annefeltasifshehadlivedyearssincethen，butbeforeshewenttobedtherewasasmileonherlipsandpeaceinherheart。Shehadlookedherdutycourageouslyinthefaceandfounditafriend——asdutyeveriswhenwemeetitfrankly。
OneafternoonafewdayslaterMarillacameslowlyinfromthefrontyardwhereshehadbeentalkingtoacaller——
amanwhomAnneknewbysightasSadlerfromCarmody。
AnnewonderedwhathecouldhavebeensayingtobringthatlooktoMarilla’sface。
\"WhatdidMr。Sadlerwant，Marilla？\"
MarillasatdownbythewindowandlookedatAnne。
Thereweretearsinhereyesindefianceoftheoculist’sprohibitionandhervoicebrokeasshesaid:
\"HeheardthatIwasgoingtosellGreenGablesandhewantstobuyit。\"
\"Buyit！BuyGreenGables？\"Annewonderedifshehadheardaright。
\"Oh，Marilla，youdon’tmeantosellGreenGables！\"
\"Anne，Idon’tknowwhatelseistobedone。I’vethoughtitallover。IfmyeyeswerestrongIcouldstayhereandmakeouttolookafterthingsandmanage，withagoodhiredman。ButasitisIcan’t。Imaylosemysightaltogether；andanywayI’llnotbefittorunthings。
Oh，IneverthoughtI’dlivetoseethedaywhenI’dhavetosellmyhome。Butthingswouldonlygobehindworseandworseallthetime，tillnobodywouldwanttobuyit。
Everycentofourmoneywentinthatbank；andthere’ssomenotesMatthewgavelastfalltopay。Mrs。Lyndeadvisesmetosellthefarmandboardsomewhere——withherIsuppose。Itwon’tbringmuch——it’ssmallandthebuildingsareold。Butit’llbeenoughformetoliveonIreckon。I’mthankfulyou’reprovidedforwiththatscholarship，Anne。I’msorryyouwon’thaveahometocometoinyourvacations，that’sall，butIsupposeyou’llmanagesomehow。\"
Marillabrokedownandweptbitterly。
\"Youmustn’tsellGreenGables，\"saidAnneresolutely。
\"Oh，Anne，IwishIdidn’thaveto。Butyoucanseeforyourself。
Ican’tstayherealone。I’dgocrazywithtroubleandloneliness。
Andmysightwouldgo——Iknowitwould。\"
\"Youwon’thavetostayherealone，Marilla。I’llbewithyou。
I’mnotgoingtoRedmond。\"
\"NotgoingtoRedmond！\"MarillaliftedherwornfacefromherhandsandlookedatAnne。\"Why，whatdoyoumean？\"
\"JustwhatIsay。I’mnotgoingtotakethescholarship。
Idecidedsothenightafteryoucamehomefromtown。Yousurelydon’tthinkIcouldleaveyoualoneinyourtrouble，Marilla，afterallyou’vedoneforme。I’vebeenthinkingandplanning。Letmetellyoumyplans。Mr。Barrywantstorentthefarmfornextyear。Soyouwon’thaveanybotheroverthat。AndI’mgoingtoteach。I’veappliedfortheschoolhere——butIdon’texpecttogetitforI
understandthetrusteeshavepromisedittoGilbertBlythe。
ButIcanhavetheCarmodyschool——Mr。Blairtoldmesolastnightatthestore。Ofcoursethatwon’tbequiteasniceorconvenientasifIhadtheAvonleaschool。ButIcanboardhomeanddrivemyselfovertoCarmodyandback，inthewarmweatheratleast。AndeveninwinterIcancomehomeFridays。We’llkeepahorseforthat。Oh，Ihaveitallplannedout，Marilla。AndI’llreadtoyouandkeepyoucheeredup。Yousha’n’tbedullorlonesome。Andwe’llberealcozyandhappyheretogether，youandI。\"
Marillahadlistenedlikeawomaninadream。
\"Oh，Anne，Icouldgetonrealwellifyouwerehere，Iknow。
ButIcan’tletyousacrificeyourselfsoforme。Itwouldbeterrible。\"
\"Nonsense！\"Annelaughedmerrily。\"Thereisnosacrifice。
NothingcouldbeworsethangivingupGreenGables——nothingcouldhurtmemore。Wemustkeepthedearoldplace。
Mymindisquitemadeup，Marilla。I’mNOTgoingtoRedmond；andIAMgoingtostayhereandteach。
Don’tyouworryaboutmeabit。\"
\"Butyourambitions——and——\"
\"I’mjustasambitiousasever。Only，I’vechangedtheobjectofmyambitions。I’mgoingtobeagoodteacher——
andI’mgoingtosaveyoureyesight。Besides，Imeantostudyathomehereandtakealittlecollegecourseallbymyself。
Oh，I’vedozensofplans，Marilla。I’vebeenthinkingthemoutforaweek。Ishallgivelifeheremybest，andIbelieveitwillgiveitsbesttomeinreturn。WhenIleftQueen’smyfutureseemedtostretchoutbeforemelikeastraightroad。
IthoughtIcouldseealongitformanyamilestone。Nowthereisabendinit。Idon’tknowwhatliesaroundthebend，butI’mgoingtobelievethatthebestdoes。Ithasafascinationofitsown，thatbend，Marilla。Iwonderhowtheroadbeyonditgoes——whatthereisofgreengloryandsoft，checkeredlightandshadows——whatnewlandscapes——whatnewbeauties——whatcurvesandhillsandvalleysfurtheron。\"
\"Idon’tfeelasifIoughttoletyougiveitup，\"saidMarilla，referringtothescholarship。
\"Butyoucan’tpreventme。I’msixteenandahalf，`obstinateasamule，’asMrs。Lyndeoncetoldme，\"laughedAnne。
\"Oh，Marilla，don’tyougopityingme。Idon’tliketobepitied，andthereisnoneedforit。I’mheartgladovertheverythoughtofstayingatdearGreenGables。
NobodycouldloveitasyouandIdo——sowemustkeepit。\"
\"Youblessedgirl！\"saidMarilla，yielding。\"Ifeelasifyou’dgivenmenewlife。IguessIoughttostickoutandmakeyougotocollege——butIknowIcan’t，soIain’tgoingtotry。I’llmakeituptoyouthough，Anne。\"
WhenitbecamenoisedabroadinAvonleathatAnneShirleyhadgivenuptheideaofgoingtocollegeandintendedtostayhomeandteachtherewasagooddealofdiscussionoverit。Mostofthegoodfolks，notknowingaboutMarilla’seyes，thoughtshewasfoolish。Mrs。Allandidnot。ShetoldAnnesoinapprovingwordsthatbroughttearsofpleasuretothegirl’seyes。NeitherdidgoodMrs。Lynde。ShecameuponeeveningandfoundAnneandMarillasittingatthefrontdoorinthewarm，scentedsummerdusk。
Theylikedtosittherewhenthetwilightcamedownandthewhitemothsflewaboutinthegardenandtheodorofmintfilledthedewyair。
Mrs。Racheldepositedhersubstantialpersonuponthestonebenchbythedoor，behindwhichgrewarowoftallpinkandyellowhollyhocks，withalongbreathofmingledwearinessandrelief。
\"IdeclareI’mgettinggladtositdown。I’vebeenonmyfeetallday，andtwohundredpoundsisagoodbitfortwofeettocarryround。It’sagreatblessingnottobefat，Marilla。
Ihopeyouappreciateit。Well，Anne，Ihearyou’vegivenupyournotionofgoingtocollege。Iwasrealgladtohearit。
You’vegotasmucheducationnowasawomancanbecomfortablewith。Idon’tbelieveingirlsgoingtocollegewiththemenandcrammingtheirheadsfullofLatinandGreekandallthatnonsense。\"
\"ButI’mgoingtostudyLatinandGreekjustthesame，Mrs。Lynde，\"saidAnnelaughing。\"I’mgoingtotakemyArtscourserighthereatGreenGables，andstudyeverythingthatIwouldatcollege。\"
Mrs。Lyndeliftedherhandsinholyhorror。
\"AnneShirley，you’llkillyourself。\"
\"Notabitofit。Ishallthriveonit。Oh，I’mnotgoingtooverdothings。As`JosiahAllen’swife，’says，Ishallbe`mejum’。ButI’llhavelotsofsparetimeinthelongwinterevenings，andI’venovocationforfancywork。
I’mgoingtoteachoveratCarmody，youknow。\"
\"Idon’tknowit。Iguessyou’regoingtoteachrighthereinAvonlea。Thetrusteeshavedecidedtogiveyoutheschool。\"
\"Mrs。Lynde！\"criedAnne，springingtoherfeetinhersurprise。
\"Why，IthoughttheyhadpromisedittoGilbertBlythe！\"
\"Sotheydid。ButassoonasGilbertheardthatyouhadappliedforithewenttothem——theyhadabusinessmeetingattheschoollastnight，youknow——andtoldthemthathewithdrewhisapplication，andsuggestedthattheyacceptyours。
HesaidhewasgoingtoteachatWhiteSands。OfcourseheknewhowmuchyouwantedtostaywithMarilla，andImustsayIthinkitwasrealkindandthoughtfulinhim，that’swhat。
Realself-sacrificing，too，forhe’llhavehisboardtopayatWhiteSands，andeverybodyknowshe’sgottoearnhisownwaythroughcollege。Sothetrusteesdecidedtotakeyou。
IwastickledtodeathwhenThomascamehomeandtoldme。\"
\"Idon’tfeelthatIoughttotakeit，\"murmuredAnne。
\"Imean——Idon’tthinkIoughttoletGilbertmakesuchasacrificefor——forme。\"
\"Iguessyoucan’tpreventhimnow。He’ssignedpaperswiththeWhiteSandstrustees。Soitwouldn’tdohimanygoodnowifyouweretorefuse。Ofcourseyou’lltaketheschool。
You’llgetalongallright，nowthattherearenoPyesgoing。
Josiewasthelastofthem，andagoodthingshewas，that’swhat。
There’sbeensomePyeorothergoingtoAvonleaschoolforthelasttwentyyears，andIguesstheirmissioninlifewastokeepschoolteachersremindedthatearthisn’ttheirhome。
Blessmyheart！WhatdoesallthatwinkingandblinkingattheBarrygablemean？\"
\"Dianaissignalingformetogoover，\"laughedAnne。
\"Youknowwekeepuptheoldcustom。ExcusemewhileI
runoverandseewhatshewants。\"
Annerandownthecloverslopelikeadeer，anddisappearedinthefirryshadowsoftheHauntedWood。Mrs。Lyndelookedafterherindulgently。
\"There’sagooddealofthechildaboutheryetinsomeways。\"
\"There’sagooddealmoreofthewomanaboutherinothers，\"
retortedMarilla，withamomentaryreturnofheroldcrispness。
ButcrispnesswasnolongerMarilla’sdistinguishingcharacteristic。AsMrs。LyndetoldherThomasthatnight。
\"MarillaCuthberthasgotMELLOW。That’swhat。\"
AnnewenttothelittleAvonleagraveyardthenexteveningtoputfreshflowersonMatthew’sgraveandwatertheScotchrosebush。Shelingeredthereuntildusk，likingthepeaceandcalmofthelittleplace，withitspoplarswhoserustlewaslikelow，friendlyspeech，anditswhisperinggrassesgrowingatwillamongthegraves。
WhenshefinallyleftitandwalkeddownthelonghillthatslopedtotheLakeofShiningWatersitwaspastsunsetandallAvonlealaybeforeherinadreamlikeafterlight——
\"ahauntofancientpeace。\"Therewasafreshnessintheairasofawindthathadblownoverhoney-sweetfieldsofclover。
Homelightstwinkledouthereandthereamongthehomesteadtrees。Beyondlaythesea，mistyandpurple，withitshaunting，unceasingmurmur。Thewestwasagloryofsoftmingledhues，andthepondreflectedthemallinstillsoftershadings。ThebeautyofitallthrilledAnne’sheart，andshegratefullyopenedthegatesofhersoultoit。
\"Dearoldworld，\"shemurmured，\"youareverylovely，andIamgladtobealiveinyou。\"
HalfwaydownthehillatallladcamewhistlingoutofagatebeforetheBlythehomestead。ItwasGilbert，andthewhistlediedonhislipsasherecognizedAnne。Heliftedhiscapcourteously，buthewouldhavepassedoninsilence，ifAnnehadnotstoppedandheldoutherhand。
\"Gilbert，\"shesaid，withscarletcheeks，\"Iwanttothankyouforgivinguptheschoolforme。Itwasverygoodofyou——andIwantyoutoknowthatIappreciateit。\"
Gilberttooktheofferedhandeagerly。
\"Itwasn’tparticularlygoodofmeatall，Anne。Iwaspleasedtobeabletodoyousomesmallservice。Arewegoingtobefriendsafterthis？Haveyoureallyforgivenmemyoldfault？\"
Annelaughedandtriedunsuccessfullytowithdrawherhand。
\"Iforgaveyouthatdaybythepondlanding，althoughIdidn’tknowit。WhatastubbornlittlegooseIwas。
I’vebeen——Imayaswellmakeacompleteconfession——I’vebeensorryeversince。\"
\"Wearegoingtobethebestoffriends，\"saidGilbert，jubilantly。\"Wewereborntobegoodfriends，Anne。
You’vethwarteddestinyenough。Iknowwecanhelpeachotherinmanyways。Youaregoingtokeepupyourstudies，aren’tyou？SoamI。Come，I’mgoingtowalkhomewithyou。\"
MarillalookedcuriouslyatAnnewhenthelatterenteredthekitchen。
\"Whowasthatcameupthelanewithyou，Anne？\"
\"GilbertBlythe，\"answeredAnne，vexedtofindherselfblushing。\"ImethimonBarry’shill。\"
\"Ididn’tthinkyouandGilbertBlytheweresuchgoodfriendsthatyou’dstandforhalfanhouratthegatetalkingtohim，\"saidMarillawithadrysmile。
\"Wehaven’tbeen——we’vebeengoodenemies。Butwehavedecidedthatitwillbemuchmoresensibletobegoodfriendsinthefuture。Werewereallytherehalfanhour？Itseemedjustafewminutes。But，yousee，wehavefiveyears’lostconversationstocatchupwith，Marilla。\"
Annesatlongatherwindowthatnightcompanionedbyagladcontent。Thewindpurredsoftlyinthecherryboughs，andthemintbreathscameuptoher。ThestarstwinkledoverthepointedfirsinthehollowandDiana’slightgleamedthroughtheoldgap。
Anne’shorizonshadclosedinsincethenightshehadsatthereaftercominghomefromQueen’s；butifthepathsetbeforeherfeetwastobenarrowsheknewthatflowersofquiethappinesswouldbloomalongit。Thejoyofsincereworkandworthyaspirationandcongenialfriendshipweretobehers；nothingcouldrobherofherbirthrightoffancyorheridealworldofdreams。Andtherewasalwaysthebendintheroad！
\"`God’sinhisheaven，all’srightwiththeworld，’\"
whisperedAnnesoftly。
