the manse with Mrs. Allan; and then, almost before Anne realized it,
spring had come again to Green Gables and all the world was abloom once
more.
Studies palled just a wee bit then; the Queen s class, left behind in
school while the others scattered to green lanes and leafy wood cuts and
meadow byways, looked wistfully out of the windows and discovered that
Latin verbs and French exercises had somehow lost the tang and zest they
had possessed in the crisp winter months. Even Anne and Gilbert lagged
and grew indifferent. Teacher and taught were alike glad when the term
was ended and the glad vacation days stretched rosily before them.
But you ve done good work this past year, Miss Stacy told them on the
last evening, and you deserve a good, jolly vacation. Have the best
time you can in the out-of-door world and lay in a good stock of health
and vitality and ambition to carry you through next year. It will be the
tug of war, you know--the last year before the Entrance.
Are you going to be back next year, Miss Stacy? asked Josie Pye.
Josie Pye never scrupled to ask questions; in this instance the rest of
the class felt grateful to her; none of them would have dared to ask
it of Miss Stacy, but all wanted to, for there had been alarming rumors
running at large through the school for some time that Miss Stacy was
not coming back the next year--that she had been offered a position
in the grade school of her own home district and meant to accept. The
Queen s class listened in breathless suspense for her answer.
Yes, I think I will, said Miss Stacy. I thought of taking another
school, but I have decided to come back to Avonlea. To tell the truth,
I ve grown so interested in my pupils here that I found I couldn t leave
them. So I ll stay and see you through.
Hurrah! said Moody Spurgeon. Moody Spurgeon had never been so carried
away by his feelings before, and he blushed uncomfortably every time he
thought about it for a week.
Oh, I m so glad, said Anne, with shining eyes. Dear Stacy, it would
be perfectly dreadful if you didn t come back. I don t believe I could
have the heart to go on with my studies at all if another teacher came
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