But your ambitions--and--
I m just as ambitious as ever. Only, I ve changed the object of my
ambitions. I m going to be a good teacher--and I m going to save your
eyesight. Besides, I mean to study at home here and take a little
college course all by myself. Oh, I ve dozens of plans, Marilla. I ve
been thinking them out for a week. I shall give life here my best, and
I believe it will give its best to me in return. When I left Queen s my
future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought
I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I
don t know what lies around the bend, but I m going to believe that the
best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder
how the road beyond it goes--what there is of green glory and
soft, checkered light and shadows--what new landscapes--what new
beauties--what curves and hills and valleys further on.
I don t feel as if I ought to let you give it up, said Marilla,
referring to the scholarship.
But you can t prevent me. I m sixteen and a half, obstinate as a
mule, as Mrs. Lynde once told me, laughed Anne. Oh, Marilla, don t
you go pitying me. I don t like to be pitied, and there is no need
for it. I m heart glad over the very thought of staying at dear Green
Gables. Nobody could love it as you and I do--so we must keep it.
You blessed girl! said Marilla, yielding. I feel as if you d given me
new life. I guess I ought to stick out and make you go to college--but
I know I can t, so I ain t going to try. I ll make it up to you though,
Anne.
When it became noised abroad in Avonlea that Anne Shirley had given up
the idea of going to college and intended to stay home and teach there
was a good deal of discussion over it. Most of the good folks, not
knowing about Marilla s eyes, thought she was foolish. Mrs. Allan did
not. She told Anne so in approving words that brought tears of pleasure
to the girl s eyes. Neither did good Mrs. Lynde. She came up one evening
and found Anne and Marilla sitting at the front door in the warm,
scented summer dusk. They liked to sit there when the twilight came down
and the white moths flew about in the garden and the odor of mint filled
the dewy air.
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