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587 661 of sunset sky and wove her dreams of a possible future from the golden tissue of youth’s own optimism. All the Beyond was hers with its possibilities lurking rosily in the oncoming years. X18  

Chapter 36. The Glory and the Dream

On the morning when the final results of all the examinations XXXXXXXXXXX were to be posted on the bulletin board at Queen’s, Anne and Jane walked down the street together. Jane was smiling and happy; the examinations were over and she was comfortably sure she had made a pass at least; further considerations troubled Jane not at all; she had no _^^soaring ambitions and consequently was not affected with the unrest attendant thereon. For we pay a price for everything we get or take in this world; and although ambitions are well worth having, they are not to be cheaply won, but exact

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so, without trying to break it gently, and whatever you do don’t sympathize with me. Promise me this, Jane.”

Jane promised solemnly; but, as it happened, there was no necessity for such a promise. When they went up the entrance steps of Queen’s they found the hall full of boys who were carrying Gilbert Blythe around on their shoulders and yelling at the tops of their voices, “Hurrah for Blythe, Medallist!”

For a moment Anne felt one sickening pang of defeat and disappointment. So she had failed and Gilbert had won! Well, Matthew would be sorry—he had been so sure they she would win.

And then!

Somebody called out,

“Three cheers for Miss Shirley, winner of the Avery!”

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with eyes and ears for only one student on the platform—a tall girl in pale green, who read with faintly flushed cheeks and starry eyes, who read the best essay and was pointed out and whispered about as the Avery winner.

“Reckon you’re glad we kept her, Marilla”? whispered Matthew, speaking for the first time when since he had entered the hall, when Anne had finished her essay.

“It’s not the first time I’ve been glad,” retorted Marilla. “You do like to rub things in, Matthew Cuthbert.”

Miss Barry, who was sitting behind them, leaned forward and poked Marilla in the back with her parasol.

“Aren’t you proud of that Anne-girl? I am,” she said.

Anne went home to Avonlea with

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better than me,” said Diana reproachfully. “Josie Pye told me you did. Y18

Anne laughed and pelted Diana with the faded “June lilies” of her bouquet.

“Stella Maynard is the dearest girl in the world except one and you are that one, Diana,” she said. “I love you more than ever—and I’ve so many things to tell you. But just now I feel as if it were joy enough to sit here and look at you. I’m tired, I think—tired of being studious and ambitious. I mean to spend at least two hours tomorrow lying out in the orchard grass, thinking of absolutely nothing.”

“You’ve done splendidly, Anne. I suppose you won’t be teaching now

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Gilbert would be going to Redmond also. What would she do without their _^^inspiring rivalry? Would not work, even at a co-educational college with a real degree in prospect, be rather flat without her friend the enemy?

The next morning at breakfast it suddenly struck Anne that Matthew was not looking well. Surely he was much greyer than he had been a year before.” [sic]

“Marilla,” she said hesitatingly when he had gone out, “is Matthew quite well?”

“No, he isn’t,” said Marilla in a troubled tone. “He’s had some real bad spells with his heart this spring and he won’t spare himself a mite. I’ve been real worried about

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I’ve a pain so often now—behind my eyes. Doctor Spencer’s been fussing with glasses but they don’t do me any good. There is a distinguished oculist coming to the Island the last of June and the doctor says I must see him. I guess I’ll have to. I can’t read or sew with any comfort now. Well, Anne, you’ve done real well at Queen’s I must say. To take First Class License in one year and win the Avery scholarship—well, well, Mrs. Lynde says pride goes before a fall and she doesn’t believe in the higher education of women at all; she says it unfits them for women’s true sphere. I don’t believe a word of it. Speaking of Rachel reminds me—did you hear anything about the Abbey Bank lately, Anne?”

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wanted Matthew to draw our money right out and he said he’d think of it. But Mr. Russell told him yesterday the bank was all right.”

Anne had her good day in the companionship of the outside world. She never forgot that day; it was so bright and golden and fair, _^^Z18 Anne spent some of its _^^rich hours in the orchard; she went to the Dryad’s Bubble and Willowmere and Violet Vale; she called at the manse and had a _^^satisfying talk with Mrs. Allan; and finally in the evening she went with Matthew for the cows, through Lover’s Lane to the back pasture; _^^A19 Matthew walked slowly with bent head; Anne, Anne, tall and erect, suited her

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Matthew, patting her hand. “Just mind you that—rather than a dozen boys. Well, now, I guess it wasn’t a boy that took the Avery scholarship, was it? It was a girl—my girl—my girl that I’m proud of.”

He smiled his shy smile at her as he went into the yard. Anne took the memory of it with her when she went to her room that night and sat for a long while at her open window, thinking of the past and dreaming of the future. _^^B19 Anne always remembered the silvery peaceful beauty and fragrant calm of that night. It was the last night before sorrow touched her life; and no life is ever quite