Anne Shirley (アン・シャーリー)

As the summer we lost Ruby came to an end,

I was preparing for my return to Kingsport...

Say, Anne, been writing any more stories lately?

No.

Well, Mrs. Hiram Sloane told me the other day that a big envelope

addressed to that baking powder company had been dropped into the post office box.

I suspected that maybe you were trying for the prize they'd offered

for the best story that introduced the name of their baking powder.

Indeed, no!

I think it would be perfectly disgraceful to write a story as an advertisement.

Anne!

There you are.

Here's a letter for you.

Here!

I was at the office, so I thought I'd bring it along.

Do open it quick.

What's come over you, Diana?

I'm wild with delight. Go on, read it.

"We have much pleasure in informing you"

"that your charming story 'Averil's Atonement'"

"has won the prize of twenty-five dollars offered in our recent competition."

"Yours very truly, The Rollings Reliable Baking Powder Co."

What?

Chapter 20

My World Has Tumbled Into Pieces

I don't understand.

How could my story have won the prize?

I sent it!

Oh, I knew it would win!

At first I thought I'd ask you to send it in.

But you had so little faith left in it.

So I just decided I'd send the copy you gave me.

Why, Anne, you don't seem a bit pleased!

I'm so amazed—I can't realize it.

There wasn't a word in my story about... about baking powder.

Oh, I put that in.

It was as easy as a wink.

When Averil bakes the cake,

I just added, "and I will never use any baking powder except Rollings."

Here!

The twenty-five dollars you've won!

Diana,

I can't take it.

It's yours by right. You sent the story in.

The honor of being a friend of the prize-winner is enough for me.

I'm so glad for your sake, Anne.

Oh, Diana,

I think you are the sweetest and truest friend in the world,

and I assure you I appreciate the motive of what you've done.

Gilbert's here to see you, Anne.

Are you well?

Why, what is the matter?

I came to congratulate you.

Oh, Gilbert, not you.

I thought you would understand.

I must confess I can't. What is wrong?

Everything.

I loved my poor little story.

What will the professors think when they hear I've written an advertisement?

And, oh, when it gets out at Redmond! Think how I'll be teased and laughed at!

Why worry what anyone else thinks?

One would rather write masterpieces of literature, no doubt.

But, meanwhile, meals have to be bought and board has to be paid.

Put the prize toward tuition fees and consider that it enhances your learning.

I suppose one must face reality.

But I cannot feel easy in my mind about it.

Then will you let me read your story sometime?

Certainly. But whatever for?

Because then I'll be able to tell whether you wrote it as an advertisement.

I'd like you to read it very much.

Isn't it lovely?

Do you know, I didn't notice until just now?

This view has made my own cares pale into insignificance more than once.

Gilbert, did you really come to congratulate me?

Yes, of course.

He must have known I was feeling miserable.

Good. She looks more cheerful than I'd feared.

Thank you.

Just think, next week we start our second year at Redmond.

It's homier than home.

It's pictures galore after all, I see.

Although Miss Patty didn't seem to want us putting more holes in her wallpaper.

We'll putty the holes up when we leave, dear.

Now, Stella, when does Aunt Jamesina come to live with us?

Tomorrow. And she's bringing a cat.

A cat! I adore cats!

Then there will be six of us living under one roof.

Five and one animal, you mean.

Call it four and two animals.

Good morning, Charlie.

My, what good friends you are.

Oh, stop it.

Good morning, friendly fellow lodgers.

Good morning, Gilbert.

The living room has come together splendidly.

You must visit.

Of course.

Well, I have class across the hall.

Later, then.

Anne?

Has anything happened between you and Gilbert?

No.

What?

I don't miss much in affairs of the heart.

Honestly, nothing's happened!

You don't need to hide it.

Goodness!

You mustn't follow me.

I'm sorry, but we already have a cat coming to stay.

No. Shoo.

It's not a laughing matter!

That cat must have taken a real fancy to you, Anne.

Was he as thin as all that?

You should have fed him.

No. If I did that, I would have to keep him.

You can't simply waltz in uninvited.

He has evidently adopted you.

He really is emaciated.

Poor creature.

Well, I'll give him a square meal and then he must return to whence he came.

He plainly means to stay.

Something has to be done.

We can't keep him.

Aunt Jimsie will bring her cat with her.

Yes.

That's why I told him and myself that it was not to be.

Oh.

Oh, I can't pretend any longer!

He's my cat!

His name is Rusty!

What, you've already christened him?

How like Anne.

Now you'll have to convince Aunt Jimsie and the other cat.

Yes, I'll try.

Be good, Rusty.

Um... Aunt Jamesina,

I thought you said you were bringing one cat.

A dear friend begged me to take him.

The stately one is the Sarah-cat.

The meek one is my dear friend's, Joseph.

The Sarah-cat never fights and Joseph rarely.

Rusty!

No, Rusty!

Stop that!

It's all right. Let them fight it out.