Matthew and Marilla were there, with eyes and ears for only one student
on the platform--a tall girl in pale green, 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 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 Matthew and Marilla that evening. She had
not been home since April and she felt that she could not wait another
day. The apple blossoms were out and the world was fresh and young.
Diana was at Green Gables to meet her. In her own white room, where
Marilla had set a flowering house rose on the window sill, Anne looked
about her and drew a long breath of happiness.
Oh, Diana, it s so good to be back again. It s so good to see those
pointed firs coming out against the pink sky--and that white orchard and
the old Snow Queen. Isn t the breath of the mint delicious? And that tea
rose--why, it s a song and a hope and a prayer all in one. And it s _good_
to see you again, Diana!
I thought you liked that Stella Maynard better than me, said
Diana reproachfully. Josie Pye told me you did. Josie said you were
_infatuated_ with her.
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
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