Anne Shirley (アン・シャーリー)

With the final examinations of our junior year before us,

we were studying hard.

I'm going to take a scholarship in mathematics.

Mathematics will be a hurdle.

Don't you do better at Greek?

What do you even need a scholarship for? You're rich.

I want to prove to Jonas that I'm really enormously clever.

Jonas will content himself with your big, brown eyes and your crooked smile.

Times have changed, I suppose.

Can you cook, Phil?

No, I never cooked anything in my life except a gingerbread and it was a failure.

But don't you think I could cook if I began in good earnest to learn?

I hope so.

It's from our landlady, Miss Patty.

She says that we can have Patty's Place for another year!

Really?!

"Maria and I are going to run over Egypt."

"I want to see the Sphinx once before I die."

"Run over Egypt"!

I wonder if they'll look up at the Sphinx and knit.

In any case, we can live together another year.

Yes!

I'm so glad!

Aren't you, Phil?

Phil?

I'm off for a tramp in the park.

Anne, how about a break? Come with me.

Chapter 22

How Horrible It Is That People Have to Grow Up, and Marry, and Change!

I'd go home and write a poem this blessed minute if I only knew how.

Anne, I'm the happiest girl in the world.

So Mr. Blake has asked you to marry him at last, Phil?

And I sneezed three times while he was asking me.

We're to be married a year from next June.

Oh, Phil, congratulations.

I still can't really believe that Jonas cares for frivolous me.

You're not really frivolous.

I know underneath that frivolous exterior, you've got a dear, loyal little soul.

Jonas graduates from St. Columba this spring,

then he's going to take a mission church in the slums.

But I'd go there or to Greenland's icy mountains with him.

And this is the girl who would never marry a man who wasn't rich.

I shall be poor as gaily as I've been rich. You'll see.

Anne.

All Redmond knows that Roy is crazy about you.

And you do love him, don't you?

I...

Yes, I suppose I do.

Dearest Anne,

Your smile, the light of many thousand stars.

Your clear voice, raindrops on the river's face.

Your warmth...

"...has lit forever my heart's fires."

My.

Not exactly up to the level of Keats or Shakespeare,

but I think it quite a fine love poem to send an odd duck like me.

Gilbert could never have written it, at any rate.

Gilbert has found a fine girl of his own to love,

Phil is engaged to Jonas,

and Diana has Fred.

Will Roy and I be married someday, too?

Well, Rusty?

Anne, as ever, your beauty dazzles me.

Oh, Roy, you make me blush.

And you're far handsomer than I am.

Christine!

Anne! And Roy, too!

It's so nice to see you again!

Oh, we met at the reception the other day.

You're Gilbert's...?

Yes, "Gilbert's..."

I haven't seen him lately. Is he well?

Yes. Gilbert took off today.

Oh, I'd love to stay and chat,

but I'm keeping a professor waiting.

Please, don't let us keep you.

I'll give Gilbert your best.

Good day!

Let's go.

Let's.

My junior year concluded,

and I returned to Avonlea for Diana's wedding.

Oh.

The top two are delicate. Be careful moving them.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm sorry, Anne. And after you've come all this way.

I'm simply frantic getting ready for the party and moving house.

It's all right.

Only...

I never dreamed the day I'd be your bridesmaid would come so soon.

Oh, Anne. I'll only be two miles away.

And I hear you've finally met your ideal man.

It's a shame about Gilbert,

but you know your mind best.

I'll give you my blessing.

The new teacher gave me ten sums to do for Monday.

If that's not mean, what is? I want to know.

Davy, don't talk like that about your—

Anne!

Welcome home, Anne!

It's good to be home.

Have you seen Diana?

Yes.

It seems so funny and horrible to think of Diana's being married.

I don't see what's horrible about it.

Fred Wright has a fine farm and he is a model young man.

Fred is extremely good.

Then what—

Would you want Diana to marry a wicked man instead?

Or marry one yourself?

Oh, no.

But I think I'd like someone who could be wicked and wouldn't.

You'll have more sense some day, I hope.

Davy, come help me.

Aw, do I have to?

Is something the matter with Marilla?

She's disappointed because she heard you refused Gilbert Blythe.

Who told her that?

Everyone in Avonlea knows it, Anne.

How did word get out?

Perhaps Charlie Sloane told his guesses for truth again.

Don't tell me Diana told Fred, and Fred let it slip!

Tell me, Matthew,

why does everyone want to see me married to Gilbert?

Why can't we stay the best of friends?

I only wanted to preserve our friendship.

If she isn't marrying for money,

and she likes this handsome Roy better than Gilbert,

there's nothing more to be said. Still...

Anne wouldn't be so mercenary.

I have no fear on that account.

Only...

I can't help feeling that something has gone awry.

Do you worry Anne will repeat your mistakes?

Don't.

What is to be, will be.

Anne's in, ain't she?!