[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

turned out. . .how they have come together again after all the years of separation and misunderstanding?"
"Yes, it's beautiful," said Gilbert, looking steadily down into Anne's uplifted face, "but wouldn't it have been
more beautiful still, Anne, if there had been NO separation or misunderstanding. . . if they had come hand in
hand all the way through life, with no memories behind them but those which belonged to each other?"
For a moment Anne's heart fluttered queerly and for the first time her eyes faltered under Gilbert's gaze and a
rosy flush stained the paleness of her face. It was as if a veil that had hung before her inner consciousness had
been lifted, giving to her view a revelation of unsuspected feelings and realities. Perhaps, after all, romance
did not come into one's life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one's side
like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of
illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps. . . perhaps. . .love unfolded
naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.
Then the veil dropped again; but the Anne who walked up the dark lane was not quite the same Anne who had
driven gaily down it the evening before. The page of girlhood had been turned, as by an unseen finger, and the
page of womanhood was before her with all its charm and mystery, its pain and gladness.
Gilbert wisely said nothing more; but in his silence he read the history of the next four years in the light of
Anne's remembered blush. Four years of earnest, happy work. . .and then the guerdon of a useful knowledge
gained and a sweet heart won.
Behind them in the garden the little stone house brooded among the shadows. It was lonely but not forsaken.
It had not yet done with dreams and laughter and the joy of life; there were to be future summers for the little
stone house; meanwhile, it could wait. And over the river in purple durance the echoes bided their time.
End of Project Gutenberg Etext of Anne of Avonlea.
The correct words were obtained from the L.C. Page & Company, Inc. edition of this book copyright 1909 -
Thirteenth Impression, April 1911.
Italic emphases have been CAPITALIZED for emphasis, other italics, such as titles have been `Placed in
Single Quotes.' Italic I's are I.
Most spellings and combined words have been left as they were in the majority of the editions orginally
published. Some spelling errors we presume were not intended have been corrected.
Etext of Anne of Avonlea
from http://mc.clintock.com/gutenberg/ [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]