Anne of Avonlea

e A

lves in the grind of Christmas examinations, emerging therefrom more or less triumphantly. The honor of leading in the Freshman classes fluctuated between Anne,

Gables," said Anne on the night before departure. "But I shall

lly are such dear boys, you know. There's to be no end of dances and drives and general jam

k me-and I'd love to go to Bolingbroke some day. But I can't go th

r two quilting parties, I suppose; and all the old gossips will talk you

said Anne, h

, Queen Anne-your hair and your style and, oh, everything! You're so DIFFERENT. You'd be such a succ

I've heard harps swept by the fingers of rain and wind. There is a pond nearby that will be gray and brooding now. There will be two oldish ladies in the house, one tall and thin, one short and fat; and there will be two twins, one a perfect model, the other wha

ull one," said Phi

faithful, tender love, such as I'll never find anywhere else in the world-love that's waiting fo

box of chocolates away, went up t

was like you," s

ey drove up the lane. There was a light in every window, the glow breaking out through the darkness like flame-red blossoms swung against the dark background of the Haun

a frazzle. He creeps up behind her, you know, and then lets go. He was determined to have a bonfire for you, too. He's been piling up branches for a fortnight and pestering Marilla to be let

nd Davy was rapturously hugging her knees

you how to poke it-see the sparks? I did it for yo

was behind her, sonsy, kindly, matronly, as of yore. The love that Anne had told Phil was waiting for her surrounded her and enfolded her with its blessing and its sweetness. Nothing, after all, could compare with old ties, old friends, and old Green Gables! How starry Anne's ey

ht," said Marilla sarcastically, as the girls went upstai

t I'm going to put Davy to be

he hall. "I want somebody to say my prayer

ne, Davy. God is always

nt to pray to somebody I can see, but I WON'T

, he did not seem in a hurry to begin. He stood before Anne,

kneel down,

s head in Anne's lap, b

praying after all. I haven't felt like it for a week

avy?" asked

mad if I tell yo

lannelled body on her knee an

ad' when you tell

t's worse. You'll be awful sorry when I tell you

ghty, Davy, and is that why

nything naughty-yet.

is it,

t. "I heard Mr. Harrison's hired boy say it one day last week, and ever sinc

t then

s flushed face

it's an AWFU

Y I

n a low voice he said the dreadful word. The n

WANT to say it again. I knew it was bad, but I didn't

, Davy-or think it, either. And I wouldn't go about

r-whoops," said Davy

d words, do you, Davy-words that will poison

, owl-eyed with

o use them. And now do you feel as

say them now all right. I ain't scared now to say 'if I should d

sed the old log bridge on her homeward way the white flakes were beginning to flutter down over the fields and woods, russet and gray in their dreamless sleep. Soon the far-away slopes and hills were dim and wraith-like through their gauzy scarfing, as if pale autumn had flung a misty bridal veil over her hair an

the Fourth. She doesn't like Boston at all, and she is fearfully homesick. Miss Lavendar wants me to go through to Echo Lodge some day while I'm home and light a fire to air it, and see that the cushio

to continue it. Folks have given up expecting

that's what," said Mrs. Lynde. And there i

pa, full of Alec and Alonzo, what they said and wh

e, according to all the novels I've ever read. Now, Anne, YOUR heart wouldn't thump for anybody but the genuine Prince Charming, would it? There must be something radically wrong with mine. But I'm having a perfectly gorgeous time. How I wish you were here! It's snowing today, and I'm rapturous. I was so afraid we'

a nickel with me when I got on the car. I thought it was in the left pocket of my coat. When I got settled down comfortably I felt for it. It wasn't there.

I stood up and shook myself, and then looked on the floor. The car was full of people, who were goin

ncluded I must have put it in my mo

that Alec or Alonzo were there. But they weren't because I wanted them. If I HADN'T wanted them they would have been there by the dozen. And I couldn't decide what to say to the conductor when he came around. As soon as I got one sentence of explanation mapped out in my mind I felt nobody could believ

me, I suddenly remembered where I had put that wretched coin of the realm. I hadn't swallowed it after all. I meekly fished i

Lavendar's wedding, was briefly thrown open to wind and sunshine once more, and firelight glimmered again in the little rooms. The perfume of Miss Lavendar's rose bowl still filled the air. It was hardly possible to believe that Miss La

me glimpses of the moon," laughed Anne. "Let's go out and see if the ech

ever; and when they had ceased to answer the girls locked up Echo Lodge again and we