Sheneverforgotthatday；itwassobrightandgoldenandfair，sofreefromshadowandsolavishofblossom。Annespentsomeofitsrichhoursintheorchard；shewenttotheDryad’sBubbleandWillowmereandVioletVale；shecalledatthemanseandhadasatisfyingtalkwithMrs。Allan；andfinallyintheeveningshewentwithMatthewforthecows，throughLovers’Lanetothebackpasture。Thewoodswereallgloriedthroughwithsunsetandthewarmsplendorofitstreameddownthroughthehillgapsinthewest。Matthewwalkedslowlywithbenthead；Anne，tallanderect，suitedherspringingsteptohis。
\"You’vebeenworkingtoohardtoday，Matthew，\"shesaidreproachfully。\"Whywon’tyoutakethingseasier？\"
\"Wellnow，Ican’tseemto，\"saidMatthew，asheopenedtheyardgatetoletthecowsthrough。\"It’sonlythatI’mgettingold，Anne，andkeepforgettingit。Well，well，I’vealwaysworkedprettyhardandI’dratherdropinharness。\"
\"IfIhadbeentheboyyousentfor，\"saidAnnewistfully，\"I’dbeabletohelpyousomuchnowandspareyouinahundredways。IcouldfinditinmyhearttowishIhadbeen，justforthat。\"
\"Wellnow，I’dratherhaveyouthanadozenboys，Anne，\"