SPRINGDAYS
TheiceintheharborgrewblackandrottenintheMarchsuns；inApriltherewerebluewatersandawindy，white-cappedgulfagain；andagaintheFourWindslightbegemmedthetwilights。
\"I’msogladtoseeitoncemore，\"saidAnne，onthefirsteveningofitsreappearance。\"I’vemisseditsoallwinter。Thenorthwesternskyhasseemedblankandlonelywithoutit。\"
Thelandwastenderwithbrand-new，golden-green，babyleaves。TherewasanemeraldmistonthewoodsbeyondtheGlen。Theseawardvalleyswerefulloffairymistsatdawn。
Vibrantwindscameandwentwithsaltfoamintheirbreath。Thesealaughedandflashedandpreenedandallured，likeabeautiful，coquettishwoman。Theherringschooledandthefishingvillagewoketolife。
Theharborwasalivewithwhitesailsmakingforthechannel。Theshipsbegantosailoutwardandinwardagain。
\"Onaspringdaylikethis，\"saidAnne，\"Iknowexactlywhatmysoulwillfeellikeontheresurrectionmorning。\"
\"TherearetimesinspringwhenIsorterfeelthatI
mighthavebeenapoetifI’dbeencaughtyoung，\"
remarkedCaptainJim。\"IcatchmyselfconningoveroldlinesandversesIheardtheschoolmasterrecitingsixtyyearsago。Theydon’ttroublemeatothertimes。
NowIfeelasifIhadtogetoutontherocksorthefieldsorthewaterandspoutthem。\"
CaptainJimhadcomeupthatafternoontobringAnnealoadofshellsforhergarden，andalittlebunchofsweet-grasswhichhehadfoundinarambleoverthesanddunes。
\"It’sgettingrealscarcealongthisshorenow，\"hesaid。\"WhenIwasaboytherewasa-plentyofit。Butnowit’sonlyonceinawhileyou’llfindaplot——andneverwhenyou’relookingforit。Youjesthavetostumbleonit——you’rewalkingalongonthesandhills，neverthinkingofsweet-grass——andallatoncetheairisfullofsweetness——andthere’sthegrassunderyourfeet。Ifavorthesmellofsweet-grass。Italwaysmakesmethinkofmymother。\"
\"Shewasfondofit？\"askedAnne。
\"NotthatIknowson。Dunno’ssheeversawanysweet-grass。No，it’sbecauseithasakindofmotherlyperfume——nottooyoung，youunderstand——somethingkindofseasonedandwholesomeanddependable——jestlikeamother。Theschoolmaster’sbridealwayskeptitamongherhandkerchiefs。Youmightputthatlittlebunchamongyours，MistressBlythe。Idon’tliketheseboughtenscents——butawhiffofsweet-grassbelongsanywherealadydoes。\"
Annehadnotbeenespeciallyenthusiasticovertheideaofsurroundingherflowerbedswithquahogshells；asadecorationtheydidnotappealtoheronfirstthought。
ButshewouldnothavehurtCaptainJim’sfeelingsforanything；sosheassumedavirtueshedidnotatfirstfeel，andthankedhimheartily。AndwhenCaptainJimhadproudlyencircledeverybedwitharimofthebig，milk-whiteshells，Annefoundtohersurprisethatshelikedtheeffect。Onatownlawn，orevenupattheGlen，theywouldnothavebeeninkeeping，buthere，intheold-fashioned，sea-boundgardenofthelittlehouseofdreams，theyBELONGED。
\"TheyDOlooknice，\"shesaidsincerely。
\"Theschoolmaster’sbridealwayshadcowhawksroundherbeds，\"saidCaptainJim。\"Shewasamasterhandwithflowers。SheLOOKEDat’em——andtouched’em——SO——andtheygrewlikemad。Somefolkshavethatknack——I
reckonyouhaveit，too，MistressBlythe。\"
\"Oh，Idon’tknow——butIlovemygarden，andIloveworkinginit。Topotterwithgreen，growingthings，watchingeachdaytoseethedear，newsproutscomeup，isliketakingahandincreation，Ithink。Justnowmygardenislikefaith——thesubstanceofthingshopedfor。Butbideawee。\"
\"Italwaysamazesmetolookatthelittle，wrinkledbrownseedsandthinkoftherainbowsin’em，\"saidCaptainJim。\"WhenIponderonthemseedsIdon’tfinditnowisehardtobelievethatwe’vegotsoulsthat’llliveinotherworlds。Youcouldn’thardlybelievetherewaslifeinthemtinythings，somenobiggerthangrainsofdust，letalonecolorandscent，ifyouhadn’tseenthemiracle，couldyou？\"
Anne，whowascountingherdayslikesilverbeadsonarosary，couldnotnowtakethelongwalktothelighthouseoruptheGlenroad。ButMissCorneliaandCaptainJimcameveryoftentothelittlehouse。MissCorneliawasthejoyofAnne’sandGilbert’sexistence。
Theylaughedside-splittinglyoverherspeechesaftereveryvisit。WhenCaptainJimandshehappenedtovisitthelittlehouseatthesametimetherewasmuchsportforthelistening。Theywagedwordywarfare，sheattacking，hedefending。AnneoncereproachedtheCaptainforhisbaitingofMissCornelia。
\"Oh，Idolovetosethergoing，MistressBlythe，\"
chuckledtheunrepentantsinner。\"It’sthegreatestamusementIhaveinlife。Thattongueofherswouldblisterastone。Andyouandthatyoungdogofadoctorenj’ylisteningtoherasmuchasIdo。\"
CaptainJimcamealonganothereveningtobringAnnesomemayflowers。Thegardenwasfullofthemoist，scentedairofamaritimespringevening。Therewasamilk-whitemistontheedgeofthesea，withayoungmoonkissingit，andasilvergladnessofstarsovertheGlen。Thebellofthechurchacrosstheharborwasringingdreamilysweet。Themellowchimedriftedthroughthedusktominglewiththesoftspring-moanofthesea。CaptainJim’smayflowersaddedthelastcompletingtouchtothecharmofthenight。
\"Ihaven’tseenanythisspring，andI’vemissedthem，\"saidAnne，buryingherfaceinthem。
\"Theyain’ttobefoundaroundFourWinds，onlyinthebarrensawaybehindtheGlenupyander。ItookalittletriptodaytotheLand-of-nothing-to-do，andhuntedtheseupforyou。Ireckonthey’rethelastyou’llseethisspring，forthey’renearlydone。\"
\"Howkindandthoughtfulyouare，CaptainJim。Nobodyelse——notevenGilbert\"——withashakeofherheadathim——\"rememberedthatIalwayslongformayflowersinspring。\"
\"Well，Ihadanothererrand，too——IwantedtotakeMr。
Howardbackyanderamessoftrout。Helikesoneoccasional，andit’sallIcandoforakindnesshedidmeonce。Istayedalltheafternoonandtalkedtohim。
Helikestotalktome，thoughhe’sahighlyeddicatedmanandI’monlyanignorantoldsailor，becausehe’soneofthefolksthat’sGOTtotalkorthey’remiserable，andhefindslistenersscarcearoundhere。
TheGlenfolksfightshyofhimbecausetheythinkhe’saninfidel。Heain’tthatfargoneexactly——fewmenis，Ireckon——buthe’swhatyoumightcallaheretic。
Hereticsarewicked，butthey’remightyint’resting。
It’sjestthatthey’vegotsorterlostlookingforGod，beingundertheimpressionthatHe’shardtofind——whichHeain’tnever。Mostof’emblundertoHimafterawhile，Iguess。Idon’tthinklisteningtoMr。
Howard’sargumentsislikelytodomemuchharm。Mindyou，IbelievewhatIwasbroughtuptobelieve。Itsavesavastofbother——andbackofitall，Godisgood。ThetroublewithMr。Howardisthathe’saleetleTOOclever。Hethinksthathe’sboundtoliveuptohiscleverness，andthatit’ssmartertothrashoutsomenewwayofgettingtoheaventhantogobytheoldtrackthecommon，ignorantfolksistravelling。
Buthe’llgettheresometimeallright，andthenhe’lllaughathimself。\"
\"Mr。HowardwasaMethodisttobeginwith，\"saidMissCornelia，asifshethoughthehadnotfartogofromthattoheresy。
\"Doyouknow，Cornelia，\"saidCaptainJimgravely，\"I’veoftenthoughtthatifIwasn’taPresbyterianI’dbeaMethodist。\"
\"Oh，well，\"concededMissCornelia，\"ifyouweren’taPresbyterianitwouldn’tmattermuchwhatyouwere。
Speakingofheresy，remindsme，doctor——I’vebroughtbackthatbookyoulentme——thatNaturalLawintheSpiritualWorld——Ididn’treadmore’nathirdofit。I
canreadsense，andIcanreadnonsense，butthatbookisneithertheonenortheother。\"
\"ItISconsideredratherhereticalinsomequarters，\"
admittedGilbert，\"butItoldyouthatbeforeyoutookit，MissCornelia。\"
\"Oh，Iwouldn’thavemindeditsbeingheretical。Icanstandwickedness，butIcan’tstandfoolishness，\"saidMissCorneliacalmly，andwiththeairofhavingsaidthelastthingtherewastosayaboutNaturalLaw。
\"Speakingofbooks，AMadLovecometoanendatlasttwoweeksago，\"remarkedCaptainJimmusingly。\"Itruntoonehundredandthreechapters。Whentheygotmarriedthebookstoppedrightoff，soIreckontheirtroubleswereallover。It’srealnicethatthat’sthewayinbooksanyhow，isn’tit，evenif’tistn’tsoanywhereelse？\"
\"Ineverreadnovels，\"saidMissCornelia。\"DidyouhearhowGeordieRussellwastoday，CaptainJim？\"
\"Yes，Icalledinonmywayhometoseehim。He’sgettingroundallright——butstewinginabrothoftrouble，asusual，poorman。
’Coursehebrewsupmostofitforhimself，butI
reckonthatdon’tmakeitanyeasiertobear。\"
\"He’sanawfulpessimist，\"saidMissCornelia。
\"Well，no，heain’tapessimistexactly，Cornelia。Heonlyjestneverfindsanythingthatsuitshim。\"
\"Andisn’tthatapessimist？\"
\"No，no。Apessimistisonewhoneverexpectstofindanythingtosuithim。Geordiehain’tgotTHATfaryet。\"
\"You’dfindsomethinggoodtosayofthedevilhimself，JimBoyd。\"
\"Well，you’veheardthestoryoftheoldladywhosaidhewaspersevering。Butno，Cornelia，I’venothinggoodtosayofthedevil。\"
\"Doyoubelieveinhimatall？\"askedMissCorneliaseriously。
\"HowcanyouaskthatwhenyouknowwhatagoodPresbyterianIam，Cornelia？HowcouldaPresbyteriangetalongwithoutadevil？\"
\"DOyou？\"persistedMissCornelia。
CaptainJimsuddenlybecamegrave。
\"IbelieveinwhatIheardaministeroncecall`amightyandmalignantandINTELLIGENTpowerofevilworkingintheuniverse，’\"hesaidsolemnly。\"IdoTHAT，Cornelia。Youcancallitthedevil，orthe`principleofevil，’ortheOldScratch，oranynameyoulike。It’sTHERE，andalltheinfidelsandhereticsintheworldcan’targueitaway，anymore’ntheycanargueGodaway。It’sthere，andit’sworking。But，mindyou，Cornelia，Ibelieveit’sgoingtogettheworstofitinthelongrun。\"
\"IamsureIhopeso，\"saidMissCornelia，nonetoohopefully。\"Butspeakingofthedevil，IampositivethatBillyBoothispossessedbyhimnow。HaveyouheardofBilly’slatestperformance？\"
\"No，whatwasthat？\"
\"He’sgoneandburneduphiswife’snew，brownbroadclothsuit，thatshepaidtwenty-fivedollarsforinCharlottetown，becausehedeclaresthemenlookedtooadmiringatherwhensheworeittochurchthefirsttime。Wasn’tthatlikeaman？\"
\"MistressBoothISmightypretty，andbrown’shercolor，\"saidCaptainJimreflectively。
\"Isthatanygoodreasonwhyheshouldpokehernewsuitintothekitchenstove？BillyBoothisajealousfool，andhemakeshiswife’slifemiserable。She’scriedalltheweekabouthersuit。Oh，Anne，IwishI
couldwritelikeyou，believeME。Wouldn’tIscoresomeofthemenroundhere！\"
\"ThoseBoothsareallamitequeer，\"saidCaptainJim。
\"Billyseemedthesanestofthelottillhegotmarriedandthenthisqueerjealousstreakcroppedoutinhim。
HisbrotherDaniel，now，wasalwaysodd。\"
\"Tooktantrumseveryfewdaysorsoandwouldn’tgetoutofbed，\"saidMissCorneliawitharelish。\"Hiswifewouldhavetodoallthebarnworktillhegotoverhisspell。Whenhediedpeoplewroteherlettersofcondolence；ifI’dwrittenanythingitwouldhavebeenoneofcongratulation。Theirfather，oldAbramBooth，wasadisgustingoldsot。Hewasdrunkathiswife’sfuneral，andkeptreelingroundandhiccuping`I
didn’tdri——i——i——nkmuchbutIfeela——a——awfullyque——e——e——r。’Igavehimagoodjabinthebackwithmyumbrellawhenhecamenearme，anditsoberedhimupuntiltheygotthecasketoutofthehouse。YoungJohnnyBoothwastohavebeenmarriedyesterday，buthecouldn’tbebecausehe’sgoneandgotthemumps。
Wasn’tthatlikeaman？\"
\"Howcouldhehelpgettingthemumps，poorfellow？\"
\"I’dpoorfellowhim，believeME，ifIwasKateSterns。
Idon’tknowhowhecouldhelpgettingthemumps，butI
DOknowtheweddingsupperwasallpreparedandeverythingwillbespoiledbeforehe’swellagain。
Suchawaste！Heshouldhavehadthemumpswhenhewasaboy。\"
\"Come，come，Cornelia，don’tyouthinkyou’reamiteunreasonable？\"
MissCorneliadisdainedtoreplyandturnedinsteadtoSusanBaker，agrim-faced，kind-heartedelderlyspinsteroftheGlen，whohadbeeninstalledasmaid-of-all-workatthelittlehouseforsomeweeks。
SusanhadbeenuptotheGlentomakeasickcall，andhadjustreturned。
\"HowispooroldAuntMandytonight？\"askedMissCornelia。
Susansighed。
\"Verypoorly——verypoorly，Cornelia。Iamafraidshewillsoonbeinheaven，poorthing！\"
\"Oh，surely，it’snotsobadasthat！\"exclaimedMissCornelia，sympathetically。
CaptainJimandGilbertlookedateachother。Thentheysuddenlyroseandwentout。
\"Therearetimes，\"saidCaptainJim，betweenspasms，\"whenitwouldbeasinNOTtolaugh。Themtwoexcellentwomen！\"
CHAPTER19
DAWNANDDUSK
InearlyJune，whenthesandhillswereagreatgloryofpinkwildroses，andtheGlenwassmotheredinappleblossoms，Marillaarrivedatthelittlehouse，accompaniedbyablackhorsehairtrunk，patternedwithbrassnails，whichhadreposedundisturbedintheGreenGablesgarretforhalfacentury。SusanBaker，who，duringherfewweeks’sojourninthelittlehouse，hadcometoworship\"youngMrs。Doctor，\"asshecalledAnne，withblindfervor，lookedratherjealouslyaskanceatMarillaatfirst。ButasMarilladidnottrytointerfereinkitchenmatters，andshowednodesiretointerruptSusan’sministrationstoyoungMrs。
Doctor，thegoodhandmaidenbecamereconciledtoherpresence，andtoldhercroniesattheGlenthatMissCuthbertwasafineoldladyandknewherplace。
Oneevening，whenthesky’slimpidbowlwasfilledwitharedglory，andtherobinswerethrillingthegoldentwilightwithjubilanthymnstothestarsofevening，therewasasuddencommotioninthelittlehouseofdreams。TelephonemessagesweresentuptotheGlen，DoctorDaveandawhite-cappednursecamehastilydown，Marillapacedthegardenwalksbetweenthequahogshells，murmuringprayersbetweenhersetlips，andSusansatinthekitchenwithcottonwoolinherearsandherapronoverherhead。
Leslie，lookingoutfromthehouseupthebrook，sawthateverywindowofthelittlehousewasalight，anddidnotsleepthatnight。
TheJunenightwasshort；butitseemedaneternitytothosewhowaitedandwatched。
\"Oh，willitNEVERend？\"saidMarilla；thenshesawhowgravethenurseandDoctorDavelooked，andshedaredasknomorequestions。SupposeAnne——butMarillacouldnotsupposeit。
\"Donottellme，\"saidSusanfiercely，answeringtheanguishinMarilla’seyes，\"thatGodcouldbesocruelastotakethatdarlinglambfromuswhenwealllovehersomuch。\"
\"Hehastakenothersaswellbeloved，\"saidMarillahoarsely。
Butatdawn，whentherisingsunrentapartthemistshangingoverthesandbar，andmaderainbowsofthem，joycametothelittlehouse。Annewassafe，andawee，whitelady，withhermother’sbigeyes，waslyingbesideher。Gilbert，hisfacegrayandhaggardfromhisnight’sagony，camedowntotellMarillaandSusan。
\"ThankGod，\"shudderedMarilla。
Susangotupandtookthecottonwooloutofherears。
\"Nowforbreakfast，\"shesaidbriskly。\"Iamoftheopinionthatwewillallbegladofabiteandsup。
YoutellyoungMrs。Doctornottoworryaboutasinglething——Susanisatthehelm。Youtellherjusttothinkofherbaby。\"
Gilbertsmiledrathersadlyashewentaway。Anne，herpalefaceblanchedwithitsbaptismofpain，hereyesaglowwiththeholypassionofmotherhood，didnotneedtobetoldtothinkofherbaby。Shethoughtofnothingelse。Forafewhoursshetastedofhappinesssorareandexquisitethatshewonderediftheangelsinheavendidnotenvyher。
\"LittleJoyce，\"shemurmured，whenMarillacameintoseethebaby。\"Weplannedtocallherthatifshewereagirlie。Thereweresomanywewouldhavelikedtonameherfor；wecouldn’tchoosebetweenthem，sowedecidedonJoyce——wecancallherJoyforshort——Joy——itsuitssowell。Oh，Marilla，IthoughtI
washappybefore。NowIknowthatIjustdreamedapleasantdreamofhappiness。THISisthereality。\"
\"Youmustn’ttalk，Anne——waittillyou’restronger，\"
saidMarillawarningly。
\"YouknowhowharditisformeNOTtotalk，\"smiledAnne。
AtfirstshewastooweakandtoohappytonoticethatGilbertandthenurselookedgraveandMarillasorrowful。Then，assubtly，andcoldly，andremorselesslyasasea-fogstealinglandward，fearcreptintoherheart。WhywasnotGilbertgladder？
Whywouldhenottalkaboutthebaby？Whywouldtheynotletherhaveitwithherafterthatfirstheavenly——happyhour？Was——wasthereanythingwrong？
\"Gilbert，\"whisperedAnneimploringly，\"thebaby——isallright——isn’tshe？Tellme——tellme。\"
Gilbertwasalongwhileinturninground；thenhebentoverAnneandlookedinhereyes。Marilla，listeningfearfullyoutsidethedoor，heardapitiful，heartbrokenmoan，andfledtothekitchenwhereSusanwasweeping。
\"Oh，thepoorlamb——thepoorlamb！Howcanshebearit，MissCuthbert？Iamafraiditwillkillher。Shehasbeenthatbuiltupandhappy，longingforthatbaby，andplanningforit。Cannotanythingbedonenohow，MissCuthbert？\"
\"I’mafraidnot，Susan。Gilbertsaysthereisnohope。
Heknewfromthefirstthelittlethingcouldn’tlive。\"
\"Anditissuchasweetbaby，\"sobbedSusan。\"Ineversawonesowhite——theyaremostlyredoryallow。Anditopeneditsbigeyesasifitwasmonthsold。Thelittle，littlething！Oh，thepoor，youngMrs。
Doctor！\"
Atsunsetthelittlesoulthathadcomewiththedawningwentaway，leavingheartbreakbehindit。MissCorneliatookthewee，whiteladyfromthekindlybutstrangerhandsofthenurse，anddressedthetinywaxenforminthebeautifuldressLesliehadmadeforit。Lesliehadaskedhertodothat。Thenshetookitbackandlaiditbesidethepoor，broken，tear-blindedlittlemother。
\"TheLordhasgivenandtheLordhastakenaway，dearie，\"shesaidthroughherowntears。\"BlessedbethenameoftheLord。\"
Thenshewentaway，leavingAnneandGilbertalonetogetherwiththeirdead。
Thenextday，thesmallwhiteJoywaslaidinavelvetcasketwhichLesliehadlinedwithapple-blossoms，andtakentothegraveyardofthechurchacrosstheharbor。
MissCorneliaandMarillaputallthelittlelove-madegarmentsaway，togetherwiththeruffledbasketwhichhadbeenbefrilledandbelacedfordimpledlimbsanddownyhead。LittleJoywasnevertosleepthere；shehadfoundacolder，narrowerbed。
\"Thishasbeenanawfuldisappointmenttome，\"sighedMissCornelia。\"I’velookedforwardtothisbaby——andIdidwantittobeagirl，too。\"
\"IcanonlybethankfulthatAnne’slifewasspared，\"
saidMarilla，withashiver，recallingthosehoursofdarknesswhenthegirlshelovedwaspassingthroughthevalleyoftheshadow。
\"Poor，poorlamb！Herheartisbroken，\"saidSusan。
\"IENVYAnne，\"saidLesliesuddenlyandfiercely，\"andI’denvyherevenifshehaddied！Shewasamotherforonebeautifulday。I’dgladlygivemylifeforTHAT！\"
\"Iwouldn’ttalklikethat，Leslie，dearie，\"saidMissCorneliadeprecatingly。ShewasafraidthatthedignifiedMissCuthbertwouldthinkLesliequiteterrible。
Anne’sconvalescencewaslong，andmadebitterforherbymanythings。ThebloomandsunshineoftheFourWindsworldgratedharshlyonher；andyet，whentherainfellheavily，shepictureditbeatingsomercilesslydownonthatlittlegraveacrosstheharbor；andwhenthewindblewaroundtheeavessheheardsadvoicesinitshehadneverheardbefore。
Kindlycallershurther，too，withthewell-meantplatitudeswithwhichtheystrovetocoverthenakednessofbereavement。AletterfromPhilBlakewasanaddedsting。Philhadheardofthebaby’sbirth，butnotofitsdeath，andshewroteAnneacongratulatoryletterofsweetmirthwhichhurtherhorribly。
\"IwouldhavelaughedoveritsohappilyifIhadmybaby，\"shesobbedtoMarilla。\"ButwhenIhaven’titjustseemslikewantoncruelty——thoughIknowPhilwouldn’thurtmefortheworld。Oh，Marilla，Idon’tseehowIcanEVERbehappyagain——EVERYTHINGwillhurtmealltherestofmylife。\"
\"Timewillhelpyou，\"saidMarilla，whowasrackedwithsympathybutcouldneverlearntoexpressitinotherthanage-wornformulas。
\"Itdoesn’tseemFAIR，\"saidAnnerebelliously。
\"Babiesarebornandlivewheretheyarenotwanted——wheretheywillbeneglected——wheretheywillhavenochance。Iwouldhavelovedmybabyso——andcaredforitsotenderly——andtriedtogivehereverychanceforgood。AndyetIwasn’tallowedtokeepher。\"
\"ItwasGod’swill，Anne，\"saidMarilla，helplessbeforetheriddleoftheuniverse——theWHYofundeservedpain。\"AndlittleJoyisbetteroff。\"
\"Ican’tbelieveTHAT，\"criedAnnebitterly。Then，seeingthatMarillalookedshocked，sheaddedpassionately，\"Whyshouldshebebornatall——whyshouldanyonebebornatall——ifshe’sbetteroffdead？IDON’Tbelieveitisbetterforachildtodieatbirththantoliveitslifeout——andloveandbeloved——andenjoyandsuffer——anddoitswork——anddevelopacharacterthatwouldgiveitapersonalityineternity。AndhowdoyouknowitwasGod’swill？
PerhapsitwasjustathwartingofHispurposebythePowerofEvil。Wecan’tbeexpectedtoberesignedtoTHAT。\"
\"Oh，Anne，don’ttalkso，\"saidMarilla，genuinelyalarmedlestAnneweredriftingintodeepanddangerouswaters。\"Wecan’tunderstand——butwemusthavefaith——weMUSTbelievethatallisforthebest。I
knowyoufindithardtothinkso，justnow。Buttrytobebrave——forGilbert’ssake。He’ssoworriedaboutyou。Youaren’tgettingstrongasfastasyoushould。\"
\"Oh，IknowI’vebeenveryselfish，\"sighedAnne。\"I
loveGilbertmorethanever——andIwanttoliveforhissake。Butitseemsasifpartofmewasburiedoverthereinthatlittleharborgraveyard——andithurtssomuchthatI’mafraidoflife。\"
\"Itwon’thurtsomuchalways，Anne。\"
\"Thethoughtthatitmaystophurtingsometimeshurtsmeworsethanallelse，Marilla。\"
\"Yes，Iknow，I’vefeltthattoo，aboutotherthings。
Butweallloveyou，Anne。CaptainJimhasbeenupeverydaytoaskforyou——andMrs。Moorehauntstheplace——andMissBryantspendsmostofhertime，I
think，cookingupnicethingsforyou。Susandoesn’tlikeitverywell。ShethinksshecancookaswellasMissBryant。\"
\"DearSusan！Oh，everybodyhasbeensodearandgoodandlovelytome，Marilla。I’mnotungrateful——andperhaps——whenthishorribleachegrowsalittleless——I’llfindthatIcangoonliving。\"
CHAPTER20
LOSTMARGARET
Annefoundthatshecouldgoonliving；thedaycamewhensheevensmiledagainoveroneofMissCornelia’sspeeches。ButtherewassomethinginthesmilethathadneverbeeninAnne’ssmilebeforeandwouldneverbeabsentfromitagain。
OnthefirstdayshewasabletogoforadriveGilberttookherdowntoFourWindsPoint，andlefthertherewhileherowedoverthechanneltoseeapatientatthefishingvillage。Arollickingwindwasscuddingacrosstheharborandthedunes，whippingthewaterintowhite-capsandwashingthesandshorewithlonglinesofsilverybreakers。
\"I’mrealproudtoseeyouhereagain，MistressBlythe，\"saidCaptainJim。\"Sitdown——sitdown。I’mafearedit’smightydustyheretoday——butthere’snoneedoflookingatdustwhenyoucanlookatsuchscenery，isthere？\"
\"Idon’tmindthedust，\"saidAnne，\"butGilbertsaysImustkeepintheopenair。IthinkI’llgoandsitontherocksdownthere。\"
\"Wouldyoulikecompanyorwouldyouratherbealone？\"
\"IfbycompanyyoumeanyoursI’dmuchratherhaveitthanbealone，\"saidAnne，smiling。Thenshesighed。
Shehadneverbeforemindedbeingalone。Nowshedreadedit。Whenshewasalonenowshefeltsodreadfullyalone。
\"Here’sanicelittlespotwherethewindcan’tgetatyou，\"saidCaptainJim，whentheyreachedtherocks。
\"Ioftensithere。It’sagreatplacejesttositanddream。\"
\"Oh——dreams，\"sighedAnne。\"Ican’tdreamnow，CaptainJim——I’mdonewithdreams。\"
\"Oh，no，you’renot，MistressBlythe——oh，no，you’renot，\"saidCaptainJimmeditatively。\"Iknowhowyoufeeljestnow——butifyoukeeponlivingyou’llgetgladagain，andthefirstthingyouknowyou’llbedreamingagain——thankthegoodLordforit！Ifitwasn’tforourdreamstheymightaswellburyus。
How’dwestandlivingifitwasn’tforourdreamofimmortality？Andthat’sadreamthat’sBOUNDtocometrue，MistressBlythe。You’llseeyourlittleJoyceagainsomeday。\"
\"Butshewon’tbemybaby，\"saidAnne，withtremblinglips。\"Oh，shemaybe，asLongfellowsays，`afairmaidenclothedwithcelestialgrace’——butshe’llbeastrangertome。\"
\"Godwillmanagebetter’nTHAT，Ibelieve，\"saidCaptainJim。
Theywerebothsilentforalittletime。ThenCaptainJimsaidverysoftly:
\"MistressBlythe，mayItellyouaboutlostMargaret？\"
\"Ofcourse，\"saidAnnegently。Shedidnotknowwho\"lostMargaret\"was，butshefeltthatshewasgoingtoheartheromanceofCaptainJim’slife。
\"I’veoftenwantedtotellyouabouther，\"CaptainJimwenton。
\"Doyouknowwhy，MistressBlythe？It’sbecauseIwantsomebodytorememberandthinkofhersometimeafterI’mgone。Ican’tbearthathernameshouldbeforgottenbyalllivingsouls。AndnownobodyrememberslostMargaretbutme。\"
ThenCaptainJimtoldthestory——anold，oldforgottenstory，foritwasoverfiftyyearssinceMargarethadfallenasleeponedayinherfather’sdoryanddrifted——orsoitwassupposed，fornothingwasevercertainlyknownastoherfate——outofthechannel，beyondthebar，toperishintheblackthundersquallwhichhadcomeupsosuddenlythatlong-agosummerafternoon。ButtoCaptainJimthosefiftyyearswerebutasyesterdaywhenitispast。
\"Iwalkedtheshoreformonthsafterthat，\"hesaidsadly，\"lookingtofindherdear，sweetlittlebody；
buttheseanevergiveherbacktome。ButI’llfindhersometime，MistressBlythe——I’llfindhersometime。
She’swaitingforme。IwishIcouldtellyoujesthowshelooked，butIcan’t。I’veseenafine，silverymisthangingoverthebaratsunrisethatseemedlikeher——andthenagainI’veseenawhitebirchinthewoodsbackyanderthatmademethinkofher。Shehadpale，brownhairandalittlewhite，sweetface，andlongslenderfingerslikeyours，MistressBlythe，onlybrowner，forshewasashoregirl。SometimesIwakeupinthenightandheartheseacallingtomeintheoldway，anditseemsasiflostMargaretcalledinit。
Andwhenthere’sastormandthewavesaresobbingandmoaningIhearherlamentingamongthem。Andwhentheylaughonagaydayit’sHERlaugh——lostMargaret’ssweet，roguish，littlelaugh。Theseatookherfromme，butsomedayI’llfindher。MistressBlythe。Itcan’tkeepusapartforever。\"
\"Iamgladyouhavetoldmeabouther，\"saidAnne。\"I
haveoftenwonderedwhyyouhadlivedallyourlifealone。\"
\"Icouldn’tevercareforanyoneelse。LostMargarettookmyheartwithher——outthere，\"saidtheoldlover，whohadbeenfaithfulforfiftyyearstohisdrownedsweetheart。\"Youwon’tmindifItalkagooddealabouther，willyou，MistressBlythe？It’sapleasuretome——forallthepainwentoutofhermemoryyearsagoandjestleftitsblessing。Iknowyou’llneverforgether，MistressBlythe。Andiftheyears，asIhope，bringotherlittlefolkstoyourhome，I
wantyoutopromisemethatyou’lltellTHEMthestoryoflostMargaret，sothathernamewon’tbeforgottenamonghumankind。\"
CHAPTER21
BARRIERSSWEPTAWAY
\"Anne，\"saidLeslie，breakingabruptlyashortsilence，\"youdon’tknowhowGOODitistobesittingherewithyouagain——working——andtalking——andbeingsilenttogether。\"
Theyweresittingamongtheblue-eyedgrassesonthebankofthebrookinAnne’sgarden。Thewatersparkledandcroonedpastthem；thebirchesthrewdappledshadowsoverthem；rosesbloomedalongthewalks。Thesunwasbeginningtobelow，andtheairwasfullofwovenmusic。Therewasonemusicofthewindinthefirsbehindthehouse，andanotherofthewavesonthebar，andstillanotherfromthedistantbellofthechurchnearwhichthewee，whiteladyslept。Annelovedthatbell，thoughitbroughtsorrowfulthoughtsnow。
ShelookedcuriouslyatLeslie，whohadthrowndownhersewingandspokenwithalackofrestraintthatwasveryunusualwithher。
\"Onthathorriblenightwhenyouweresoill，\"Lesliewenton，\"Ikeptthinkingthatperhapswe’dhavenomoretalksandwalksandWORKStogether。AndI
realisedjustwhatyourfriendshiphadcometomeantome——justwhatYOUmeant——andjustwhatahatefullittlebeastIhadbeen。\"
\"Leslie！Leslie！Ineverallowanyonetocallmyfriendsnames。\"
\"It’strue。That’sexactlywhatIam——ahatefullittlebeast。There’ssomethingI’veGOTtotellyou，Anne。I
supposeitwillmakeyoudespiseme，butIMUSTconfessit。Anne，therehavebeentimesthispastwinterandspringwhenIhaveHATEDyou。\"
\"IKNEWit，\"saidAnnecalmly。
\"YouKNEWit？\"
\"Yes，Isawitinyoureyes。\"
\"Andyetyouwentonlikingmeandbeingmyfriend。\"
\"Well，itwasonlynowandthenyouhatedme，Leslie。
Betweentimesyoulovedme，Ithink。\"
\"Icertainlydid。Butthatotherhorridfeelingwasalwaysthere，spoilingit，backinmyheart。Ikeptitdown——sometimesIforgotit——butsometimesitwouldsurgeupandtakepossessionofme。IhatedyoubecauseIENVIEDyou——oh，Iwassickwithenvyofyouattimes。Youhadadearlittlehome——andlove——andhappiness——andgladdreams——everythingIwanted——andneverhad——andnevercouldhave。Oh，nevercouldhave！
THATwaswhatstung。Iwouldn’thaveenviedyou，ifI
hadhadanyHOPEthatlifewouldeverbedifferentforme。ButIhadn’t——Ihadn’t——anditdidn’tseemFAIR。
Itmademerebellious——andithurtme——andsoIhatedyouattimes。Oh，Iwassoashamedofit——I’mdyingofshamenow——butIcouldn’tconquerit。
Thatnight，whenIwasafraidyoumightn’tlive——I
thoughtIwasgoingtobepunishedformywickedness——andIlovedyousothen。Anne，Anne，I
neverhadanythingtolovesincemymotherdied，exceptDick’solddog——andit’ssodreadfultohavenothingtolove——lifeissoEMPTY——andthere’sNOTHINGworsethanemptiness——andImighthavelovedyousomuch——andthathorriblethinghadspoiledit——\"
Lesliewastremblingandgrowingalmostincoherentwiththeviolenceofheremotion。
\"Don’t，Leslie，\"imploredAnne，\"oh，don’t。I
understand——don’ttalkofitanymore。\"
\"Imust——Imust。WhenIknewyouweregoingtoliveI
vowedthatIwouldtellyouassoonasyouwerewell——thatIwouldn’tgoonacceptingyourfriendshipandcompanionshipwithouttellingyouhowunworthyI
wasofit。AndI’vebeensoafraid——itwouldturnyouagainstme。\"
\"Youneedn’tfearthat，Leslie。\"
\"Oh，I’msoglad——soglad，Anne。\"Leslieclaspedherbrown，work-hardenedhandstightlytogethertostilltheirshaking。\"ButIwanttotellyoueverything，nowI’vebegun。Youdon’trememberthefirsttimeIsawyou，Isuppose——itwasn’tthatnightontheshore——\"
\"No，itwasthenightGilbertandIcamehome。Youweredrivingyourgeesedownthehill。IshouldthinkIDOrememberit！Ithoughtyouweresobeautiful——I
longedforweeksaftertofindoutwhoyouwere。\"
\"IknewwhoYOUwere，althoughIhadneverseeneitherofyoubefore。IhadheardofthenewdoctorandhisbridewhowerecomingtoliveinMissRussell’slittlehouse。I——Ihatedyouthatverymoment，Anne。\"
\"Ifelttheresentmentinyoureyes——thenIdoubted——I
thoughtImustbemistaken——becauseWHYshoulditbe？\"
\"Itwasbecauseyoulookedsohappy。Oh，you’llagreewithmenowthatIAMahatefulbeast——tohateanotherwomanjustbecauseshewashappy，——andwhenherhappinessdidn’ttakeanythingfromme！ThatwaswhyI
neverwenttoseeyou。IknewquitewellIoughttogo——evenoursimpleFourWindscustomsdemandedthat。
ButIcouldn’t。Iusedtowatchyoufrommywindow——I
couldseeyouandyourhusbandstrollingaboutyourgardenintheevening——oryourunningdownthepoplarlanetomeethim。Andithurtme。AndyetinanotherwayIwantedtogoover。Ifeltthat，ifIwerenotsomiserable，IcouldhavelikedyouandfoundinyouwhatI’veneverhadinmylife——anintimate，REALfriendofmyownage。Andthenyourememberthatnightattheshore？YouwereafraidIwouldthinkyoucrazy。Youmusthavethought_I_was。\"
\"No，butIcouldn’tunderstandyou，Leslie。Onemomentyoudrewmetoyou——thenextyoupushedmeback。\"
\"Iwasveryunhappythatevening。Ihadhadahardday。Dickhadbeenvery——veryhardtomanagethatday。
Generallyheisquitegood-naturedandeasilycontrolled，youknow，Anne。Butsomedaysheisverydifferent。Iwassoheartsick——Iranawaytotheshoreassoonashewenttosleep。Itwasmyonlyrefuge。I
sattherethinkingofhowmypoorfatherhadendedhislife，andwonderingifIwouldn’tbedriventoitsomeday。Oh，myheartwasfullofblackthoughts！Andthenyoucamedancingalongthecovelikeaglad，light-heartedchild。I——IhatedyoumorethenthanI’veeverdonesince。AndyetIcravedyourfriendship。Theonefeelingswayedmeonemoment；theotherfeelingthenext。WhenIgothomethatnightI
criedforshameofwhatyoumustthinkofme。Butit’salwaysbeenjustthesamewhenIcameoverhere。
SometimesI’dbehappyandenjoymyvisit。Andatothertimesthathideousfeelingwouldmaritall。
Thereweretimeswheneverythingaboutyouandyourhousehurtme。YouhadsomanydearlittlethingsI
couldn’thave。Doyouknow——it’sridiculous——butI
hadanespecialspiteatthosechinadogsofyours。
ThereweretimeswhenIwantedtocatchupGogandMagogandbangtheirpertblacknosestogether！Oh，yousmile，Anne——butitwasneverfunnytome。IwouldcomehereandseeyouandGilbertwithyourbooksandyourflowers，andyourhouseholdgoods，andyourlittlefamilyjokes——andyourloveforeachothershowingineverylookandword，evenwhenyoudidn’tknowit——andIwouldgohometo——youknowwhatIwenthometo！Oh，Anne，Idon’tbelieveI’mjealousandenviousbynature。WhenIwasagirlIlackedmanythingsmyschoolmateshad，butInevercared——Ineverdislikedthemforit。ButIseemtohavegrownsohateful——\"
\"Leslie，dearest，stopblamingyourself。YouareNOT
hatefulorjealousorenvious。Thelifeyouhavetolivehaswarpedyoualittle，perhaps-butitwouldhaveruinedanaturelessfineandnoblethanyours。I’mlettingyoutellmeallthisbecauseIbelieveit’sbetterforyoutotalkitoutandridyoursoulofit。
Butdon’tblameyourselfanymore。\"
\"Well，Iwon’t。IjustwantedyoutoknowmeasIam。
Thattimeyoutoldmeofyourdarlinghopeforthespringwastheworstofall，Anne。IshallneverforgivemyselfforthewayIbehavedthen。Irepenteditwithtears。AndIDIDputmanyatenderandlovingthoughtofyouintothelittledressImade。ButI
mighthaveknownthatanythingImadecouldonlybeashroudintheend。\"
\"Now，Leslie，thatISbitterandmorbid——putsuchthoughtsaway。
Iwassogladwhenyoubroughtthelittledress；andsinceIhadtoloselittleJoyceIliketothinkthatthedresssheworewastheoneyoumadeforherwhenyouletyourselfloveme。\"
\"Anne，doyouknow，IbelieveIshallalwaysloveyouafterthis。Idon’tthinkI’lleverfeelthatdreadfulwayaboutyouagain。Talkingitalloutseemstohavedoneawaywithit，somehow。It’sverystrange——andI
thoughtitsorealandbitter。It’slikeopeningthedoorofadarkroomtoshowsomehideouscreatureyou’vebelievedtobethere——andwhenthelightstreamsinyourmonsterturnsouttohavebeenjustashadow，vanishingwhenthelightcomes。Itwillnevercomebetweenusagain。\"
\"No，wearerealfriendsnow，Leslie，andIamveryglad。\"
\"Ihopeyouwon’tmisunderstandmeifIsaysomethingelse。Anne，Iwasgrievedtothecoreofmyheartwhenyoulostyourbaby；andifIcouldhavesavedherforyoubycuttingoffoneofmyhandsIwouldhavedoneit。Butyoursorrowhasbroughtusclosertogether。
Yourperfecthappinessisn’tabarrieranylonger。Oh，don’tmisunderstand，dearest——I’mNOTgladthatyourhappinessisn’tperfectanylonger——Icansaythatsincerely；butsinceitisn’t，thereisn’tsuchagulfbetweenus。\"
\"IDOunderstandthat，too，Leslie。Now，we’lljustshutupthepastandforgetwhatwasunpleasantinit。
It’sallgoingtobedifferent。We’rebothoftheraceofJosephnow。Ithinkyou’vebeenwonderful——wonderful。And，Leslie，Ican’thelpbelievingthatlifehassomethinggoodandbeautifulforyouyet。\"
Leslieshookherhead。
\"No，\"shesaiddully。\"Thereisn’tanyhope。Dickwillneverbebetter——andevenifhismemoryweretocomeback——oh，Anne，itwouldbeworse，evenworse，thanitisnow。Thisissomethingyoucan’tunderstand，youhappybride。Anne，didMissCorneliaevertellyouhowIcametomarryDick？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"I’mglad——Iwantedyoutoknow——butIcouldn’tbringmyselftotalkofitifyouhadn’tknown。Anne，itseemstomethateversinceIwastwelveyearsoldlifehasbeenbitter。BeforethatIhadahappychildhood。
Wewereverypoor——butwedidn’tmind。Fatherwassosplendid——socleverandlovingandsympathetic。WewerechumsasfarbackasIcanremember。Andmotherwassosweet。Shewasvery，verybeautiful。Ilooklikeher，butIamnotsobeautifulasshewas。\"
\"MissCorneliasaysyouarefarmorebeautiful。\"
\"Sheismistaken——orprejudiced。IthinkmyfigureIS
better——motherwasslightandbentbyhardwork——butshehadthefaceofanangel。Iusedjusttolookupatherinworship。Weallworshippedher，——fatherandKennethandI。\"
AnnerememberedthatMissCorneliahadgivenheraverydifferentimpressionofLeslie’smother。Buthadnotlovethetruervision？Still，itWASselfishofRoseWesttomakeherdaughtermarryDickMoore。
\"Kennethwasmybrother，\"wentonLeslie。\"Oh，I
can’ttellyouhowIlovedhim。Andhewascruellykilled。Doyouknowhow？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Anne，Isawhislittlefaceasthewheelwentoverhim。Hefellonhisback。Anne——Anne——Icanseeitnow。Ishallalwaysseeit。Anne，allIaskofheavenisthatthatrecollectionshallbeblottedoutofmymemory。OmyGod！\"
\"Leslie，don’tspeakofit。Iknowthestory——don’tgointodetailsthatonlyharrowyoursoulupunavailingly。ItWILLbeblottedout。\"
Afteramoment’sstruggle，Leslieregainedameasureofself-control。
\"Thenfather’shealthgotworseandhegrewdespondent——hismindbecameunbalanced——you’veheardallthat，too？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"AfterthatIhadjustmothertolivefor。ButIwasveryambitious。Imeanttoteachandearnmywaythroughcollege。Imeanttoclimbtotheverytop——oh，Iwon’ttalkofthateither。It’snouse。Youknowwhathappened。Icouldn’tseemydearlittleheart-brokenmother，whohadbeensuchaslaveallherlife，turnedoutofherhome。Ofcourse，Icouldhaveearnedenoughforustoliveon。ButmotherCOULDN’T
leaveherhome。Shehadcomethereasabride——andshehadlovedfatherso——andallhermemorieswerethere。
Evenyet，Anne，whenIthinkthatImadeherlastyearhappyI’mnotsorryforwhatIdid。AsforDick——I
didn’thatehimwhenImarriedhim——Ijustfeltforhimtheindifferent，friendlyfeelingIhadformostofmyschoolmates。Iknewhedranksome——butIhadneverheardthestoryofthegirldownatthefishingcove。
IfIhad，ICOULDN’Thavemarriedhim，evenformother’ssake。Afterwards——IDIDhatehim——butmotherneverknew。Shedied——andthenIwasalone。IwasonlyseventeenandIwasalone。DickhadgoneoffintheFourSisters。Ihopedhewouldn’tbehomeverymuchmore。Theseahadalwaysbeeninhisblood。I
hadnootherhope。Well，CaptainJimbroughthimhome，asyouknow——andthat’sallthereistosay。Youknowmenow，Anne——theworstofme——thebarriersarealldown。Andyoustillwanttobemyfriend？\"
Annelookedupthroughthebirches，atthewhitepaper-lanternofahalfmoondriftingdownwardstothegulfofsunset。Herfacewasverysweet。
\"Iamyourfriendandyouaremine，foralways，\"shesaid。\"SuchafriendasIneverhadbefore。Ihavehadmanydearandbelovedfriends——butthereisasomethinginyou，Leslie，thatIneverfoundinanyoneelse。Youhavemoretooffermeinthatrichnatureofyours，andIhavemoretogiveyouthanIhadinmycarelessgirlhood。Wearebothwomen——andfriendsforever。\"
Theyclaspedhandsandsmiledateachotherthroughthetearsthatfilledthegrayeyesandtheblue。
CHAPTER22
MISSCORNELIAARRANGESMATTERS
GilbertinsistedthatSusanshouldbekeptonatthelittlehouseforthesummer。Anneprotestedatfirst。
\"Lifeherewithjustthetwoofusissosweet，Gilbert。Itspoilsitalittletohaveanyoneelse。
Susanisadearsoul，butsheisanoutsider。Itwon’thurtmetodotheworkhere。\"
\"Youmusttakeyourdoctor’sadvice，\"saidGilbert。
\"There’sanoldproverbtotheeffectthatshoemakers’
wivesgobarefootanddoctors’wivesdieyoung。I
don’tmeanthatitshallbetrueinmyhousehold。YouwillkeepSusanuntiltheoldspringcomesbackintoyourstep，andthoselittlehollowsonyourcheeksfillout。\"
\"Youjusttakeiteasy，Mrs。Doctor，dear，\"saidSusan，comingabruptlyin。\"Haveagoodtimeanddonotworryaboutthepantry。Susanisatthehelm。
Thereisnouseinkeepingadoganddoingyourownbarking。Iamgoingtotakeyourbreakfastuptoyoueverymorning。\"
\"Indeedyouarenot，\"laughedAnne。\"IagreewithMissCorneliathatit’sascandalforawomanwhoisn’tsicktoeatherbreakfastinbed，andalmostjustifiesthemeninanyenormities。\"
\"Oh，Cornelia！\"saidSusan，withineffablecontempt。
\"Ithinkyouhavebettersense，Mrs。Doctor，dear，thantoheedwhatCorneliaBryantsays。Icannotseewhyshemustbealwaysrunningdownthemen，evenifsheisanoldmaid。_I_amanoldmaid，butyouneverhearME
abusingthemen。Ilike’em。IwouldhavemarriedoneifIcould。Isitnotfunnynobodyeveraskedmetomarryhim，Mrs。Doctor，dear？Iamnobeauty，butIamasgood-lookingasmostofthemarriedwomenyousee。
ButIneverhadabeau。Whatdoyousupposeisthereason？\"
\"Itmaybepredestination，\"suggestedAnne，withunearthlysolemnity。
Susannodded。
\"ThatiswhatIhaveoftenthought，Mrs。Doctor，dear，andagreatcomfortitis。IdonotmindnobodywantingmeiftheAlmightydecreeditsoforHisownwisepurposes。Butsometimesdoubtcreepsin，Mrs。
Doctor，dear，andIwonderifmaybetheOldScratchhasnotmoretodowithitthananyoneelse。IcannotfeelresignedTHEN。Butmaybe，\"addedSusan，brighteningup，\"Iwillhaveachancetogetmarriedyet。Ioftenandoftenthinkoftheoldversemyauntusedtorepeat:
ThereneverwasagoosesograybutsometimesoonorlateSomehonestgandercameherwayandtookherforhismate！
Awomancannoteverbesureofnotbeingmarriedtillsheisburied，Mrs。Doctor，dear，andmeanwhileIwillmakeabatchofcherrypies。Inoticethedoctorfavors’em，andIDOlikecookingforamanwhoappreciateshisvictuals。\"
MissCorneliadroppedinthatafternoon，puffingalittle。
\"Idon’tmindtheworldorthedevilmuch，butthefleshDOESratherbotherme，\"sheadmitted。\"Youalwayslookascoolasacucumber，Anne，dearie。DoI
smellcherrypie？IfIdo，askmetostaytotea。
Haven’ttastedacherrypiethissummer。MycherrieshaveallbeenstolenbythosescampsofGilmanboysfromtheGlen。\"
\"Now，now，Cornelia，\"remonstratedCaptainJim，whohadbeenreadingaseanovelinacornerofthelivingroom，\"youshouldn’tsaythataboutthosetwopoor，motherlessGilmanboys，unlessyou’vegotcertainproof。Jestbecausetheirfatherain’tnonetoohonestisn’tanyreasonforcallingthemthieves。It’smorelikelyit’sbeentherobinstookyourcherries。
They’returriblethickthisyear。\"
\"Robins！\"saidMissCorneliadisdainfully。\"Humph！
Two-leggedrobins，believeME！\"
\"Well，mostoftheFourWindsrobinsAREconstructedonthatprinciple，\"saidCaptainJimgravely。
MissCorneliastaredathimforamoment。Thensheleanedbackinherrockerandlaughedlongandungrudgingly。
\"Well，youHAVEgotoneonmeatlast，JimBoyd，I’lladmit。Justlookhowpleasedheis，Anne，dearie，grinninglikeaChessy-cat。Asfortherobins’legsifrobinshavegreat，big，bare，sunburnedlegs，withraggedtrousershangingon’em，suchasIsawupinmycherrytreeonemorningatsunriselastweek，I’llbegtheGilmanboys’pardon。BythetimeIgotdowntheyweregone。Icouldn’tunderstandhowtheyhaddisappearedsoquick，butCaptainJimhasenlightenedme。Theyflewaway，ofcourse。\"
CaptainJimlaughedandwentaway，regretfullydeclininganinvitationtostaytosupperandpartakeofcherrypie。
\"I’monmywaytoseeLeslieandaskherifshe’lltakeaboarder，\"MissCorneliaresumed。\"I’daletteryesterdayfromaMrs。DalyinToronto，whoboardedaspellwithmetwoyearsago。Shewantedmetotakeafriendofhersforthesummer。HisnameisOwenFord，andhe’sanewspaperman，anditseemshe’sagrandsonoftheschoolmasterwhobuiltthishouse。JohnSelwyn’soldestdaughtermarriedanOntariomannamedFord，andthisisherson。Hewantstoseetheoldplacehisgrandparentslivedin。Hehadabadspelloftyphoidinthespringandhasn’tgotrightlyoverit，sohisdoctorhasorderedhimtothesea。Hedoesn’twanttogotothehotel——hejustwantsaquiethomeplace。Ican’ttakehim，forIhavetobeawayinAugust。I’vebeenappointedadelegatetotheW。F。M。S。
conventioninKingsportandI’mgoing。Idon’tknowwhetherLeslie’llwanttobebotheredwithhim，either，butthere’snooneelse。Ifshecan’ttakehimhe’llhavetogoovertheharbor。\"
\"Whenyou’veseenhercomebackandhelpuseatourcherrypies，\"saidAnne。\"BringLeslieandDick，too，iftheycancome。Andsoyou’regoingtoKingsport？
Whatanicetimeyouwillhave。Imustgiveyoualettertoafriendofminethere——Mrs。JonasBlake。\"
\"I’veprevailedonMrs。ThomasHolttogowithme，\"
saidMissCorneliacomplacently。\"It’stimeshehadalittleholiday，believeME。Shehasjustaboutworkedherselftodeath。TomHoltcancrochetbeautifully，buthecan’tmakealivingforhisfamily。Heneverseemstobeabletogetupearlyenoughtodoanywork，butInoticehecanalwaysgetupearlytogofishing。
Isn’tthatlikeaman？\"
Annesmiled。ShehadlearnedtodiscountlargelyMissCornelia’sopinionsoftheFourWindsmen。Otherwiseshemusthavebelievedthemthemosthopelessassortmentofreprobatesandne’er-do-wellsintheworld，withveritableslavesandmartyrsforwives。
ThisparticularTomHolt，forexample，sheknewtobeakindhusband，amuchlovedfather，andanexcellentneighbor。Ifhewereratherinclinedtobelazy，likingbetterthefishinghehadbeenbornforthanthefarminghehadnot，andifhehadaharmlesseccentricityfordoingfancywork，nobodysaveMissCorneliaseemedtoholditagainsthim。Hiswifewasa\"hustler，\"whogloriedinhustling；hisfamilygotacomfortablelivingoffthefarm；andhisstrappingsonsanddaughters，inheritingtheirmother’senergy，wereallinafairwaytodowellintheworld。TherewasnotahappierhouseholdinGlenSt。MarythantheHolts’。
MissCorneliareturnedsatisfiedfromthehouseupthebrook。
\"Leslie’sgoingtotakehim，\"sheannounced。\"Shejumpedatthechance。Shewantstomakealittlemoneytoshingletheroofofherhousethisfall，andshedidn’tknowhowshewasgoingtomanageit。IexpectCaptainJim’llbemorethaninterestedwhenhehearsthatagrandsonoftheSelwyns’iscominghere。Lesliesaidtotellyoushehankeredaftercherrypie，butshecouldn’tcometoteabecauseshehastogoandhuntupherturkeys。They’vestrayedaway。Butshesaid，iftherewasapieceleft，foryoutoputitinthepantryandshe’drunoverinthecat’slight，whenprowling’sinorder，togetit。Youdon’tknow，Anne，dearie，whatgooditdidmyhearttohearLesliesendyouamessagelikethat，laughinglikesheusedtolongago。
There’sagreatchangecomeoverherlately。Shelaughsandjokeslikeagirl，andfromhertalkI
gathershe’shererealoften。\"
\"Everyday——orelseI’moverthere，\"saidAnne。\"I
don’tknowwhatI’ddowithoutLeslie，especiallyjustnowwhenGilbertissobusy。He’shardlyeverhomeexceptforafewhoursintheweesma’s。He’sreallyworkinghimselftodeath。Somanyoftheover-harborpeoplesendforhimnow。\"
\"Theymightbetterbecontentwiththeirowndoctor，\"
saidMissCornelia。\"ThoughtobesureIcan’tblamethem，forhe’saMethodist。EversinceDr。BlythebroughtMrs。Allonbyroundfolksthinkhecanraisethedead。IbelieveDr。Daveisamitejealous——justlikeaman。HethinksDr。Blythehastoomanynew-fanglednotions！`Well，’Isaystohim，`itwasanew-fanglednotionsavedRhodaAllonby。IfYOU’Dbeenattendinghershe’dhavedied，andhadatombstonesayingithadpleasedGodtotakeheraway。’Oh，IDOliketospeakmymindtoDr。Dave！He’sbossedtheGlenforyears，andhethinkshe’sforgottenmorethanotherpeopleeverknew。Speakingofdoctors，IwishDr。Blythe’drunoverandseetothatboilonDickMoore’sneck。
It’sgettingpastLeslie’sskill。I’msureIdon’tknowwhatDickMoorewantstostartinhavingboilsfor——asifhewasn’tenoughtroublewithoutthat！\"
\"Doyouknow，Dickhastakenquiteafancytome，\"
saidAnne。\"Hefollowsmeroundlikeadog，andsmileslikeapleasedchildwhenInoticehim。\"
\"Doesitmakeyoucreepy？\"
\"Notatall。IratherlikepoorDickMoore。Heseemssopitifulandappealing，somehow。\"
\"Youwouldn’tthinkhimveryappealingifyou’dseehimonhiscantankerousdays，believeME。ButI’mgladyoudon’tmindhim——it’sallthenicerforLeslie。She’llhavemoretodowhenherboardercomes。Ihopehe’llbeadecentcreature。You’llprobablylikehim——he’sawriter。\"
\"Iwonderwhypeoplesocommonlysupposethatiftwoindividualsarebothwriterstheymustthereforebehugelycongenial，\"saidAnne，ratherscornfully。
\"Nobodywouldexpecttwoblacksmithstobeviolentlyattractedtowardeachothermerelybecausetheywerebothblacksmiths。\"
Nevertheless，shelookedforwardtotheadventofOwenFordwithapleasantsenseofexpectation。IfhewereyoungandlikeablehemightproveaverypleasantadditiontosocietyinFourWinds。Thelatch-stringofthelittlehousewasalwaysoutfortheraceofJoseph。