Aren’t you proud of that Anne-girl? I am.

[Jane] had no soaring ambitions and consequently was not affected with the unrest attendant thereon. For we pay a price for everything we get or take in this world; and although ambitions are well worth having, they are not cheaply won, but exact their dues of work and self-denial, anxiety and discouragement.

Anne’s anxiously awaiting the final grades and awards, so anxiously in fact that she resolves to wait it out in the bathroom and let Jane haunt the bulletin board for her. But before she can beat a retreat, the award results come out, and Gilbert won the medal, but Anne won the Avery scholarship. Matthew and Marilla naturally come out for her graduation.

“Reckon you’re glad we kept her, Marilla?” whispered Matthew, speaking for the first time since he had entered the hall, when Anne finished her essay.

“It’s not the first time I’ve been glad,” retorted Marilla. “You do like to rub things in, Matthew Cuthbert.”

She’s happy to go home (at least for the summer). Josie Pye’s evidently been spreading rumors that Diana is no longer Anne’s BFF, but Anne herself reassures her.

“Stella Maynard is the dearest girl in the world except one and you are that one, Diana.” she said. “I love you more than ever – and I’ve so many things to tell you. But just now I feel as if it were joy enough to sit here and look at you. I’m tired, I think – tired of being studious and ambitious. I mean to spend at least two hours tomorrow lying in the orchard grass, thinking of absolutely nothing.”

Diana informs her that Gilbert means to start teaching, since his parents don’t have the money to send him to college.

Anne felt a queer little sensation of dismayed surprise. She had not known this; she had expected Gilbert would be going to Redmond also. What would she do without their inspiring rivalry? Would not work, even at a co-educational college with a real degree in prospect, be rather flat without her friend the enemy?

I’d say it should be obvious at this point that her feelings toward Gilbert have changed by now, I can’t really blame her for ignoring them as long as she can. Especially since there seems to be trouble enough at Green Gables.

Marilla’s eyes (and head) have been bothering her so much that she finds it hard to do the household handiwork that was so important in that day and age. Anne declares that she’s ready to pick up the slack on that front, but she can’t do so much to help Matthew, who in addition to his increasing heart trouble, is possibly facing financial ruin because he refuses to withdraw his money from a bank that’s increasingly unstable.

“If I’d been the boy you’d sent for,” said Anne wistfully, “I’d be able to help you so much now and spare you in a hundred ways. I could find it in my heart to wish I had been, just for that.”

“Well, no. I’d rather have you than a dozen boys, Anne,” said Matthew patting her hand. “Just mind you that – rather than a dozen boys. Well, I guess it wasn’t a boy that took the Avery scholarship, was it? It was a girl – my girl – my girl that I’m proud of.”

He is such a sweetheart.

Outside the Snow Queen was mistily white in the moonshine; frogs were singing in the marsh beyond Orchard Slope. Anne always remembered the silvery, peaceful beauty and fragrant calm of that night. It was the last night before sorrow touched her life; and no life is ever quite the same again once that cold, sanctifying touch has been laid upon it.

Next time: The Reaper whose name is Death…