You mustn t sell Green Gables, said Anne resolutely.
Oh, Anne, I wish I didn t have to. But you can see for yourself. I
can t stay here alone. I d go crazy with trouble and loneliness. And my
sight would go--I know it would.
You won t have to stay here alone, Marilla. I ll be with you. I m not
going to Redmond.
Not going to Redmond! Marilla lifted her worn face from her hands and
looked at Anne. Why, what do you mean?
Just what I say. I m not going to take the scholarship. I decided so
the night after you came home from town. You surely don t think I could
leave you alone in your trouble, Marilla, after all you ve done for me.
I ve been thinking and planning. Let me tell you my plans. Mr. Barry
wants to rent the farm for next year. So you won t have any bother over
that. And I m going to teach. I ve applied for the school here--but I
don t expect to get it for I understand the trustees have promised it to
Gilbert Blythe. But I can have the Carmody school--Mr. Blair told me
so last night at the store. Of course that won t be quite as nice or
convenient as if I had the Avonlea school. But I can board home and
drive myself over to Carmody and back, in the warm weather at least. And
even in winter I can come home Fridays. We ll keep a horse for that. Oh,
I have it all planned out, Marilla. And I ll read to you and keep you
cheered up. You sha n t be dull or lonesome. And we ll be real cozy and
happy here together, you and I.
Marilla had listened like a woman in a dream.
Oh, Anne, I could get on real well if you were here, I know. But I
can t let you sacrifice yourself so for me. It would be terrible.
Nonsense! Anne laughed merrily. There is no sacrifice. Nothing could
be worse than giving up Green Gables--nothing could hurt me more. We
must keep the dear old place. My mind is quite made up, Marilla. I m _not_
going to Redmond; and I _am_ going to stay here and teach. Don t you worry
about me a bit.
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