Leslieshookherhead。
\"Notjustnow，thankyou，Anne。Idon’tfeellikehavinganotherdogyet。Idon’tseemtohaveanyaffectionleftforanother。Perhaps——intime——I’llletyougivemeone。Ireallyneedoneasakindofprotection。ButtherewassomethingalmosthumanaboutCarlo——itwouldn’tbeDECENTtofillhisplacetoohurriedly，dearoldfellow。\"
AnnewenttoAvonleaaweekbeforeChristmasandstayeduntilaftertheholidays。Gilbertcameupforher，andtherewasagladNewYearcelebrationatGreenGables，whenBarrysandBlythesandWrightsassembledtodevouradinnerwhichhadcostMrs。RachelandMarillamuchcarefulthoughtandpreparation。WhentheywentbacktoFourWindsthelittlehousewasalmostdriftedover，forthethirdstormofawinterthatwastoprovephenomenallystormyhadwhirleduptheharborandheapedhugesnowmountainsabouteverythingitencountered。ButCaptainJimhadshovelledoutdoorsandpaths，andMissCorneliahadcomedownandkindledthehearth-fire。
\"It’sgoodtoseeyouback，Anne，dearie！Butdidyoueverseesuchdrifts？Youcan’tseetheMooreplaceatallunlessyougoupstairs。Leslie’llbesogladyou’reback。She’salmostburiedaliveoverthere。
FortunatelyDickcanshovelsnow，andthinksit’sgreatfun。Susansentmewordtotellyoushewouldbeonhandtomorrow。Whereareyouofftonow，Captain？\"
\"IreckonI’llploughuptotheGlenandsitabitwitholdMartinStrong。He’snotfarfromhisendandhe’slonesome。Hehasn’tmanyfriends——beentoobusyallhislifetomakeany。He’smadeheapsofmoney，though。\"
\"Well，hethoughtthatsincehecouldn’tserveGodandMammonhe’dbettersticktoMammon，\"saidMissCorneliacrisply。\"Soheshouldn’tcomplainifhedoesn’tfindMammonverygoodcompanynow。\"
CaptainJimwentout，butrememberedsomethingintheyardandturnedbackforamoment。
\"I’daletterfromMr。Ford，MistressBlythe，andhesaysthelife-bookisacceptedandisgoingtobepublishednextfall。IfeltfairupliftedwhenIgotthenews。TothinkthatI’mtoseeitinprintatlast。\"
\"Thatmaniscleancrazyonthesubjectofhislife-book，\"saidMissCorneliacompassionately。\"Formypart，Ithinkthere’sfartoomanybooksintheworldnow。\"
CHAPTER29
GILBERTANDANNEDISAGREE
GilbertlaiddowntheponderousmedicaltomeoverwhichhehadbeenporinguntiltheincreasingduskoftheMarcheveningmadehimdesist。Heleanedbackinhischairandgazedmeditativelyoutofthewindow。Itwasearlyspring——probablytheugliesttimeoftheyear。
Noteventhesunsetcouldredeemthedead，soddenlandscapeandrottenblackharboriceuponwhichhelooked。Nosignoflifewasvisible，saveabigblackcrowwinginghissolitarywayacrossaleadenfield。
Gilbertspeculatedidlyconcerningthatcrow。Washeafamilycrow，withablackbutcomelycrowwifeawaitinghiminthewoodsbeyondtheGlen？Orwasheaglossyyoungbuckofacrowoncourtingthoughtsintent？Orwasheacynicalbachelorcrow，believingthathetravelsthefastestwhotravelsalone？
Whateverhewas，hesoondisappearedincongenialgloomandGilbertturnedtothecheerierviewindoors。
Thefirelightflickeredfrompointtopoint，gleamingonthewhiteandgreencoatsofGogandMagog，onthesleek，brownheadofthebeautifulsetterbaskingontherug，onthepictureframesonthewalls，onthevasefulofdaffodilsfromthewindowgarden，onAnneherself，sittingbyherlittletable，withhersewingbesideherandherhandsclaspedoverherkneewhileshetracedoutpicturesinthefire——CastlesinSpainwhoseairyturretspiercedmoonlitcloudandsunsetbar-shipssailingfromtheHavenofGoodHopesstraighttoFourWindsHarborwithpreciousburthen。ForAnnewasagainadreamerofdreams，albeitagrimshapeoffearwentwithhernightanddaytoshadowanddarkenhervisions。
Gilbertwasaccustomedtorefertohimselfas\"anoldmarriedman。\"ButhestilllookeduponAnnewiththeincredulouseyesofalover。Hecouldn’twhollybelieveyetthatshewasreallyhis。ItMIGHTbeonlyadreamafterall，partandparcelofthismagichouseofdreams。Hissoulstillwentontip-toebeforeher，lestthecharmbeshatteredandthedreamdispelled。
\"Anne，\"hesaidslowly，\"lendmeyourears。Iwanttotalkwithyouaboutsomething。\"
Annelookedacrossathimthroughthefire-litgloom。
\"Whatisit？\"sheaskedgaily。\"Youlookfearfullysolemn，Gilbert。Ireallyhaven’tdoneanythingnaughtytoday。AskSusan。\"
\"It’snotofyou——orourselves——Iwanttotalk。It’saboutDickMoore。\"
\"DickMoore？\"echoedAnne，sittingupalertly。\"Why，whatintheworldhaveyoutosayaboutDickMoore？\"
\"I’vebeenthinkingagreatdealabouthimlately。DoyourememberthattimelastsummerItreatedhimforthosecarbunclesonhisneck？\"
\"Yes——yes。\"
\"Itooktheopportunitytoexaminethescarsonhisheadthoroughly。I’vealwaysthoughtDickwasaveryinterestingcasefromamedicalpointofview。LatelyI’vebeenstudyingthehistoryoftrephiningandthecaseswhereithasbeenemployed。Anne，IhavecometotheconclusionthatifDickMooreweretakentoagoodhospitalandtheoperationoftrephiningperformedonseveralplacesinhisskull，hismemoryandfacultiesmightberestored。\"
\"Gilbert！\"Anne’svoicewasfullofprotest。\"Surelyyoudon’tmeanit！\"
\"Ido，indeed。AndIhavedecidedthatitismydutytobroachthesubjecttoLeslie。\"
\"GilbertBlythe，youshallNOTdoanysuchthing，\"
criedAnnevehemently。\"Oh，Gilbert，youwon’t——youwon’t。Youcouldn’tbesocruel。Promisemeyouwon’t。\"
\"Why，Anne-girl，Ididn’tsupposeyouwouldtakeitlikethis。Bereasonable——\"
\"Iwon’tbereasonable——Ican’tbereasonable——IAM
reasonable。Itisyouwhoareunreasonable。Gilbert，haveyoueveroncethoughtwhatitwouldmeanforLeslieifDickMooreweretoberestoredtohisrightsenses？Juststopandthink！She’sunhappyenoughnow；butlifeasDick’snurseandattendantisathousandtimeseasierforherthanlifeasDick’swife。
Iknow——IKNOW！It’sunthinkable。Don’tyoumeddlewiththematter。Leavewellenoughalone。\"
\"IHAVEthoughtoverthataspectofthecasethoroughly，Anne。ButIbelievethatadoctorisboundtosetthesanctityofapatient’smindandbodyaboveallotherconsiderations，nomatterwhattheconsequencesmaybe。Ibelieveithisdutytoendeavortorestorehealthandsanity，ifthereisanyhopewhateverofit。\"
\"ButDickisn’tyourpatientinthatrespect，\"criedAnne，takinganothertack。\"IfLesliehadaskedyouifanythingcouldbedoneforhim，THENitmightbeyourdutytotellherwhatyoureallythought。Butyou’venorighttomeddle。\"
\"Idon’tcallitmeddling。UncleDavetoldLeslietwelveyearsagothatnothingcouldbedoneforDick。
Shebelievesthat，ofcourse。\"
\"AndwhydidUncleDavetellherthat，ifitwasn’ttrue？\"criedAnne，triumphantly。\"Doesn’theknowasmuchaboutitasyou？\"
\"Ithinknot——thoughitmaysoundconceitedandpresumptuoustosayit。AndyouknowaswellasI
thatheisratherprejudicedagainstwhathecalls`thesenew-fanglednotionsofcuttingandcarving。’
He’sevenopposedtooperatingforappendicitis。\"
\"He’sright，\"exclaimedAnne，withacompletechangeoffront。`Ibelievemyselfthatyoumoderndoctorsareentirelytoofondofmakingexperimentswithhumanfleshandblood。\"
\"RhodaAllonbywouldnotbealivingwomantodayifI
hadbeenafraidofmakingacertainexperiment，\"
arguedGilbert。\"Itooktherisk——andsavedherlife。\"
\"I’msickandtiredofhearingaboutRhodaAllonby，\"
criedAnne——mostunjustly，forGilberthadnevermentionedMrs。Allonby’snamesincethedayhehadtoldAnneofhissuccessinregardtoher。Andhecouldnotbeblamedforotherpeople’sdiscussionofit。
Gilbertfeltratherhurt。
\"Ihadnotexpectedyoutolookatthematterasyoudo，Anne，\"hesaidalittlestiffly，gettingupandmovingtowardstheofficedoor。Itwastheirfirstapproachtoaquarrel。
ButAnneflewafterhimanddraggedhimback。
\"Now，Gilbert，youarenot`goingoffmad。’SitdownhereandI’llapologisebee-YEW-ti-fully，Ishouldn’thavesaidthat。But——oh，ifyouknew——\"
Annecheckedherselfjustintime。ShehadbeenontheveryvergeofbetrayingLeslie’ssecret。
\"Knewwhatawomanfeelsaboutit，\"sheconcludedlamely。
\"IthinkIdoknow。I’velookedatthematterfromeverypointofview——andI’vebeendriventotheconclusionthatitismydutytotellLesliethatI
believeitispossiblethatDickcanberestoredtohimself；theremyresponsibilityends。Itwillbeforhertodecidewhatshewilldo。\"
\"Idon’tthinkyou’veanyrighttoputsucharesponsibilityonher。Shehasenoughtobear。Sheispoor——howcouldsheaffordsuchanoperation？\"
\"Thatisforhertodecide，\"persistedGilbertstubbornly。
\"YousayyouthinkthatDickcanbecured。ButareyouSUREofit？\"
\"Certainlynot。Nobodycouldbesureofsuchathing。
Theremayhavebeenlesionsofthebrainitself，theeffectofwhichcanneverberemoved。Butif，asI
believe，hislossofmemoryandotherfacultiesisduemerelytothepressureonthebraincentersofcertaindepressedareasofbone，thenhecanbecured。\"
\"Butit’sonlyapossibility！\"insistedAnne。\"Now，supposeyoutellLeslieandshedecidestohavetheoperation。Itwillcostagreatdeal。Shewillhavetoborrowthemoney，orsellherlittleproperty。AndsupposetheoperationisafailureandDickremainsthesame。
Howwillshebeabletopaybackthemoneysheborrows，ormakealivingforherselfandthatbighelplesscreatureifshesellsthefarm？\"
\"Oh，Iknow——Iknow。Butitismydutytotellher。I
can’tgetawayfromthatconviction。\"
\"Oh，IknowtheBlythestubbornness，\"groanedAnne。
\"Butdon’tdothissolelyonyourownresponsibility。
ConsultDoctorDave。\"
\"IHAVEdoneso，\"saidGilbertreluctantly。
\"Andwhatdidhesay？\"
\"Inbrief——asyousay——leavewellenoughalone。Apartfromhisprejudiceagainstnew-fangledsurgery，I’mafraidhelooksatthecasefromyourpointofview——don’tdoit，forLeslie’ssake。\"
\"Therenow，\"criedAnnetriumphantly。\"Idothink，Gilbert，thatyououghttoabidebythejudgmentofamannearlyeighty，whohasseenagreatdealandsavedscoresofliveshimself——surelyhisopinionoughttoweighmorethanamereboy’s。\"
\"Thankyou。\"
\"Don’tlaugh。It’stooserious。\"
\"That’sjustmypoint。ItISserious。Hereisamanwhoisahelplessburden。Hemayberestoredtoreasonandusefulness——\"
\"Hewassoveryusefulbefore，\"interjectedAnnewitheringly。
\"Hemaybegivenachancetomakegoodandredeemthepast。Hiswifedoesn’tknowthis。Ido。Itisthereforemydutytotellherthatthereissuchapossibility。That，boileddown，ismydecision。\"
\"Don’tsay`decision’yet，Gilbert。Consultsomebodyelse。AskCaptainJimwhathethinksaboutit。\"
\"Verywell。ButI’llnotpromisetoabidebyhisopinion，Anne。
Thisissomethingamanmustdecideforhimself。MyconsciencewouldneverbeeasyifIkeptsilentonthesubject。\"
\"Oh，yourconscience！\"moanedAnne。\"IsupposethatUncleDavehasaconsciencetoo，hasn’the？\"
\"Yes。ButIamnotthekeeperofhisconscience。
Come，Anne，ifthisaffairdidnotconcernLeslie——ifitwereapurelyabstractcase，youwouldagreewithme，——youknowyouwould。\"
\"Iwouldn’t，\"vowedAnne，tryingtobelieveitherself。\"Oh，youcanargueallnight，Gilbert，butyouwon’tconvinceme。JustyouaskMissCorneliawhatshethinksofit。\"
\"You’redriventothelastditch，Anne，whenyoubringupMissCorneliaasareinforcement。Shewillsay，`Justlikeaman，’andragefuriously。Nomatter。
ThisisnoaffairforMissCorneliatosettle。Lesliealonemustdecideit。\"
\"Youknowverywellhowshewilldecideit，\"saidAnne，almostintears。\"Shehasidealsofduty，too。
Idon’tseehowyoucantakesucharesponsibilityonyourshoulders。_I_couldn’t。\"
\"`BecauserightisrighttofollowrightWerewisdominthescornofconsequence，’\"
quotedGilbert。
\"Oh，youthinkacoupletofpoetryaconvincingargument！\"scoffedAnne。\"Thatissolikeaman。\"
Andthenshelaughedinspiteofherself。ItsoundedsolikeanechoofMissCornelia。
\"Well，ifyouwon’tacceptTennysonasanauthority，perhapsyouwillbelievethewordsofaGreaterthanhe，\"saidGilbertseriously。\"`Yeshallknowthetruthandthetruthshallmakeyoufree。’Ibelievethat，Anne，withallmyheart。It’sthegreatestandgrandestverseintheBible——orinanyliterature——andtheTRUEST，iftherearecomparativedegreesoftrueness。Andit’sthefirstdutyofamantotellthetruth，asheseesitandbelievesit。\"
\"Inthiscasethetruthwon’tmakepoorLesliefree，\"
sighedAnne。\"Itwillprobablyendinstillmorebitterbondageforher。Oh，Gilbert，ICAN’Tthinkyouareright。\"
CHAPTER30
LESLIEDECIDES
AsuddenoutbreakofavirulenttypeofinfluenzaattheGlenanddownatthefishingvillagekeptGilbertsobusyforthenextfortnightthathehadnotimetopaythepromisedvisittoCaptainJim。AnnehopedagainsthopethathehadabandonedtheideaaboutDickMoore，and，resolvingtoletsleepingdogslie，shesaidnomoreaboutthesubject。Butshethoughtofitincessantly。
\"IwonderifitwouldberightformetotellhimthatLesliecaresforOwen，\"shethought。\"Hewouldneverlethersuspectthatheknew，soherpridewouldnotsuffer，anditMIGHTconvincehimthatheshouldletDickMoorealone。ShallI——shallI？No，afterall，I
cannot。Apromiseissacred，andI’venorighttobetrayLeslie’ssecret。Butoh，IneverfeltsoworriedoveranythinginmylifeasIdooverthis。
It’sspoilingthespring——it’sspoilingeverything。\"
OneeveningGilbertabruptlyproposedthattheygodownandseeCaptainJim。WithasinkingheartAnneagreed，andtheysetforth。TwoweeksofkindsunshinehadwroughtamiracleinthebleaklandscapeoverwhichGilbert’scrowhadflown。Thehillsandfieldsweredryandbrownandwarm，readytobreakintobudandblossom；theharborwaslaughter-shakenagain；thelongharborroadwaslikeagleamingredribbon；downonthedunesacrowdofboys，whowereoutsmeltfishing，wereburningthethick，drysandhillgrassoftheprecedingsummer。Theflamessweptoverthedunesrosily，flingingtheircardinalbannersagainstthedarkgulfbeyond，andilluminatingthechannelandthefishingvillage。ItwasapicturesquescenewhichwouldatothertimeshavedelightedAnne’seyes；butshewasnotenjoyingthiswalk。NeitherwasGilbert。Theirusualgood-comradeshipandJosephiancommunityoftasteandviewpointweresadlylacking。Anne’sdisapprovalofthewholeprojectshoweditselfinthehaughtyupliftofherheadandthestudiedpolitenessofherremarks。
Gilbert’smouthwassetinalltheBlytheobstinacy，buthiseyesweretroubled。Hemeanttodowhathebelievedtobehisduty；buttobeatoutswithAnnewasahighpricetopay。Altogether，bothweregladwhentheyreachedthelight——andremorsefulthattheyshouldbeglad。
CaptainJimputawaythefishingnetuponwhichhewasworking，andwelcomedthemjoyfully。InthesearchinglightofthespringeveninghelookedolderthanAnnehadeverseenhim。Hishairhadgrownmuchgrayer，andthestrongoldhandshookalittle。Buthisblueeyeswereclearandsteady，andthestaunchsoullookedoutthroughthemgallantandunafraid。
CaptainJimlistenedinamazedsilencewhileGilbertsaidwhathehadcometosay。Anne，whoknewhowtheoldmanworshippedLeslie，feltquitesurethathewouldsidewithher，althoughshehadnotmuchhopethatthiswouldinfluenceGilbert。ShewasthereforesurprisedbeyondmeasurewhenCaptainJim，slowlyandsorrowfully，butunhesitatingly，gaveitashisopinionthatLeslieshouldbetold。
\"Oh，CaptainJim，Ididn’tthinkyou’dsaythat，\"sheexclaimedreproachfully。\"Ithoughtyouwouldn’twanttomakemoretroubleforher。\"
CaptainJimshookhishead。
\"Idon’twantto。Iknowhowyoufeelaboutit，MistressBlythe——justasIfeelmeself。Butitain’tourfeelingswehavetosteerbythroughlife——no，no，we’dmakeshipwreckmightyoftenifwedidthat。
There’sonlytheonesafecompassandwe’vegottosetourcoursebythat——whatit’srighttodo。Iagreewiththedoctor。Ifthere’sachanceforDick，Leslieshouldbetoldofit。There’snotwosidestothat，inmyopinion。\"
\"Well，\"saidAnne，givingupindespair，\"waituntilMissCorneliagetsafteryoutwomen。\"
\"Cornelia’llrakeusforeandaft，nodoubt，\"assentedCaptainJim。\"Youwomenarelovelycritters，MistressBlythe，butyou’rejustamiteillogical。You’reahighlyeddicatedladyandCorneliaisn’t，butyou’relikeastwopeaswhenitcomestothat。Idunno’syou’reanytheworseforit。Logicisasortofhard，mercilessthing，Ireckon。Now，I’llbrewacupofteaandwe’lldrinkitandtalkofpleasantthings，jesttocalmourmindsabit。\"
Atleast，CaptainJim’steaandconversationcalmedAnne’smindtosuchanextentthatshedidnotmakeGilbertsuffersoacutelyonthewayhomeasshehaddeliberatelyintendedtodo。Shedidnotrefertotheburningquestionatall，butshechattedamiablyofothermatters，andGilbertunderstoodthathewasforgivenunderprotest。
\"CaptainJimseemsveryfrailandbentthisspring。
Thewinterhasagedhim，\"saidAnnesadly。\"IamafraidthathewillsoonbegoingtoseeklostMargaret。Ican’tbeartothinkofit。\"
\"FourWindswon’tbethesameplacewhenCaptainJim`setsouttosea，’\"agreedGilbert。
Thefollowingeveninghewenttothehouseupthebrook。Annewandereddismallyarounduntilhisreturn。
\"Well，whatdidLesliesay？\"shedemandedwhenhecamein。
\"Verylittle。Ithinkshefeltratherdazed。\"
\"Andisshegoingtohavetheoperation？\"
\"Sheisgoingtothinkitoveranddecideverysoon。\"
Gilbertflunghimselfwearilyintotheeasychairbeforethefire。Helookedtired。IthadnotbeenaneasythingforhimtotellLeslie。Andtheterrorthathadsprungintohereyeswhenthemeaningofwhathetoldhercamehometoherwasnotapleasantthingtoremember。Now，whenthediewascast，hewasbesetwithdoubtsofhisownwisdom。
Annelookedathimremorsefully；thensheslippeddownontherugbesidehimandlaidherglossyredheadonhisarm。
\"Gilbert，I’vebeenratherhatefuloverthis。Iwon’tbeanymore。Pleasejustcallmered-headedandforgiveme。\"
BywhichGilbertunderstoodthat，nomatterwhatcameofit，therewouldbenoI-told-you-so’s。Buthewasnotwhollycomforted。Dutyintheabstractisonething；dutyintheconcreteisquiteanother，especiallywhenthedoerisconfrontedbyawoman’sstrickeneyes。
SomeinstinctmadeAnnekeepawayfromLeslieforthenextthreedays。OnthethirdeveningLesliecamedowntothelittlehouseandtoldGilbertthatshehadmadeuphermind；shewouldtakeDicktoMontrealandhavetheoperation。
Shewasverypaleandseemedtohavewrappedherselfinheroldmantleofaloofness。ButhereyeshadlostthelookwhichhadhauntedGilbert；theywerecoldandbright；andsheproceededtodiscussdetailswithhiminacrisp，business-likeway。Therewereplanstobemadeandmanythingstobethoughtover。WhenLesliehadgottheinformationshewantedshewenthome。Annewantedtowalkpartofthewaywithher。
\"Betternot，\"saidLesliecurtly。\"Today’srainhasmadethegrounddamp。Good-night。\"
\"HaveIlostmyfriend？\"saidAnnewithasigh。\"IftheoperationissuccessfulandDickMoorefindshimselfagainLesliewillretreatintosomeremotefastnessofhersoulwherenoneofuscaneverfindher。\"
\"Perhapsshewillleavehim，\"saidGilbert。
\"Lesliewouldneverdothat，Gilbert。Hersenseofdutyisverystrong。ShetoldmeoncethatherGrandmotherWestalwaysimpresseduponherthefactthatwhensheassumedanyresponsibilityshemustnevershirkit，nomatterwhattheconsequencesmightbe。
Thatisoneofhercardinalrules。Isupposeit’sveryold-fashioned。\"
\"Don’tbebitter，Anne-girl。Youknowyoudon’tthinkitold-fashioned——youknowyouhavetheverysameideaofsacrednessofassumedresponsibilitiesyourself。
Andyouareright。Shirkingresponsibilitiesisthecurseofourmodernlife——thesecretofalltheunrestanddiscontentthatisseethingintheworld。\"
\"Thussaiththepreacher，\"mockedAnne。Butunderthemockeryshefeltthathewasright；andshewasverysickatheartforLeslie。
AweeklaterMissCorneliadescendedlikeanavalancheuponthelittlehouse。GilbertwasawayandAnnewascompelledtobeartheshockoftheimpactalone。
MissCorneliahardlywaitedtogetherhatoffbeforeshebegan。
\"Anne，doyoumeantotellmeit’struewhatI’veheard——thatDr。BlythehastoldLeslieDickcanbecured，andthatsheisgoingtotakehimtoMontrealtohavehimoperatedon？\"
\"Yes，itisquitetrue，MissCornelia，\"saidAnnebravely。
\"Well，it’sinhumancruelty，that’swhatitis，\"saidMissCornelia，violentlyagitated。\"IdidthinkDr。
Blythewasadecentman。Ididn’tthinkhecouldhavebeenguiltyofthis。\"
\"Dr。BlythethoughtitwashisdutytotellLesliethattherewasachanceforDick，\"saidAnnewithspirit，\"and，\"sheadded，loyaltytoGilbertgettingthebetterofher，\"Iagreewithhim。\"
\"Oh，no，youdon’t，dearie，\"saidMissCornelia。\"Nopersonwithanybowelsofcompassioncould。\"
\"CaptainJimdoes。\"
\"Don’tquotethatoldninnytome，\"criedMissCornelia。\"AndIdon’tcarewhoagreeswithhim。
Think——THINKwhatitmeanstothatpoorhunted，harriedgirl。\"
\"WeDOthinkofit。ButGilbertbelievesthatadoctorshouldputthewelfareofapatient’smindandbodybeforeallotherconsiderations。\"
\"That’sjustlikeaman。ButIexpectedbetterthingsofyou，Anne，\"saidMissCornelia，moreinsorrowthaninwrath；thensheproceededtobombardAnnewithpreciselythesameargumentswithwhichthelatterhadattackedGilbert；andAnnevaliantlydefendedherhusbandwiththeweaponshehadusedforhisownprotection。Longwasthefray，butMissCorneliamadeanendatlast。
\"It’saniniquitousshame，\"shedeclared，almostintears。\"That’sjustwhatitis——aniniquitousshame。
Poor，poorLeslie！\"
\"Don’tyouthinkDickshouldbeconsideredalittletoo？\"pleadedAnne。
\"Dick！DickMoore！HE’Shappyenough。He’sabetterbehavedandmorereputablememberofsocietynowthanheeverwasbefore。
Why，hewasadrunkardandperhapsworse。Areyougoingtosethimlooseagaintoroarandtodevour？\"
\"Hemayreform，\"saidpoorAnne，besetbyfoewithoutandtraitorwithin。
\"Reformyourgrandmother！\"retortedMissCornelia。
\"DickMooregottheinjuriesthatlefthimasheisinadrunkenbrawl。HeDESERVEShisfate。Itwassentonhimforapunishment。Idon’tbelievethedoctorhasanybusinesstotamperwiththevisitationsofGod。\"
\"NobodyknowshowDickwashurt，MissCornelia。Itmaynothavebeeninadrunkenbrawlatall。Hemayhavebeenwaylaidandrobbed。\"
\"PigsMAYwhistle，butthey’vepoormouthsforit，\"
saidMissCornelia。\"Well，thegistofwhatyoutellmeisthatthethingissettledandthere’snouseintalking。Ifthat’ssoI’llholdmytongue。Idon’tproposetowearMYteethoutgnawingfiles。WhenathinghastobeIgiveintoit。ButIliketomakemightysurefirstthatitHAStobe。Now，I’lldevoteMYenergiestocomfortingandsustainingLeslie。Andafterall，\"addedMissCornelia，brighteninguphopefully，\"perhapsnothingcanbedoneforDick。\"
CHAPTER31
THETRUTHMAKESFREE
Leslie，havingoncemadeuphermindwhattodo，proceededtodoitwithcharacteristicresolutionandspeed。House-cleaningmustbefinishedwithfirst，whateverissuesoflifeanddeathmightawaitbeyond。
Thegrayhouseupthebrookwasputintoflawlessorderandcleanliness，withMissCornelia’sreadyassistance。
MissCornelia，havingsaidhersaytoAnne，andlaterontoGilbertandCaptainJim——sparingneitherofthem，letitbeassured——neverspokeofthemattertoLeslie。
SheacceptedthefactofDick’soperation，referredtoitwhennecessaryinabusiness-likeway，andignoreditwhenitwasnot。Leslieneverattemptedtodiscussit。Shewasverycoldandquietduringthesebeautifulspringdays。SheseldomvisitedAnne，andthoughshewasinvariablycourteousandfriendly，thatverycourtesywasasanicybarrierbetweenherandthepeopleofthelittlehouse。Theoldjokesandlaughterandchumminessofcommonthingscouldnotreachheroverit。Annerefusedtofeelhurt。SheknewthatLesliewasinthegripofahideousdread——adreadthatwrappedherawayfromalllittleglimpsesofhappinessandhoursofpleasure。Whenonegreatpassionseizespossessionofthesoulallotherfeelingsarecrowdedaside。NeverinallherlifehadLeslieMooreshudderedawayfromthefuturewithmoreintolerableterror。Butshewentforwardasunswervinglyinthepathshehadelectedasthemartyrsofoldwalkedtheirchosenway，knowingtheendofittobethefieryagonyofthestake。
ThefinancialquestionwassettledwithgreatereasethanAnnehadfeared。LeslieborrowedthenecessarymoneyfromCaptainJim，and，atherinsistence，hetookamortgageonthelittlefarm。
\"Sothatisonethingoffthepoorgirl’smind，\"MissCorneliatoldAnne，\"andoffminetoo。Now，ifDickgetswellenoughtoworkagainhe’llbeabletoearnenoughtopaytheinterestonit；andifhedoesn’tI
knowCaptainJim’llmanagesomewaythatLesliewon’thaveto。Hesaidasmuchtome。`I’mgettingold，Cornelia，’hesaid，`andI’venochickorchildofmyown。Lesliewon’ttakeagiftfromalivingman，butmebbeshewillfromadeadone。’SoitwillbeallrightasfarasTHATgoes。Iwisheverythingelsemightbesettledassatisfactorily。AsforthatwretchofaDick，he’sbeenawfultheselastfewdays。Thedevilwasinhim，believeME！LeslieandIcouldn’tgetonwithourworkforthetrickshe’dplay。Hechasedallherducksonedayaroundtheyardtillmostofthemdied。Andnotonethingwouldhedoforus。
Sometimes，youknow，he’llmakehimselfquitehandy，bringinginpailsofwaterandwood。Butthisweekifwesenthimtothewellhe’dtrytoclimbdownintoit。
Ithoughtonce，`Ifyou’donlyshootdowntherehead-firsteverythingwouldbenicelysettled。’\"
\"Oh，MissCornelia！\"
\"Now，youneedn’tMissCorneliame，Anne，dearie。
ANYBODYwouldhavethoughtthesame。IftheMontrealdoctorscanmakearationalcreatureoutofDickMoorethey’rewonders。\"
LeslietookDicktoMontrealearlyinMay。Gilbertwentwithher，tohelpher，andmakethenecessaryarrangementsforher。HecamehomewiththereportthattheMontrealsurgeonwhomtheyhadconsultedagreedwithhimthattherewasagoodchanceofDick’srestoration。
\"Verycomforting，\"wasMissCornelia’ssarcasticcomment。
Anneonlysighed。Lesliehadbeenverydistantattheirparting。
Butshehadpromisedtowrite。TendaysafterGilbert’sreturnthelettercame。LesliewrotethattheoperationhadbeensuccessfullyperformedandthatDickwasmakingagoodrecovery。
\"Whatdoesshemeanby`successfully？’\"askedAnne。
\"DoesshemeanthatDick’smemoryisreallyrestored？\"
\"Notlikely——sinceshesaysnothingofit，\"saidGilbert。\"Sheusestheword`successfully’fromthesurgeon’spointofview。Theoperationhasbeenperformedandfollowedbynormalresults。ButitistoosoontoknowwhetherDick’sfacultieswillbeeventuallyrestored，whollyorinpart。Hismemorywouldnotbelikelytoreturntohimallatonce。Theprocesswillbegradual，ifitoccursatall。Isthatallshesays？\"
\"Yes——there’sherletter。It’sveryshort。Poorgirl，shemustbeunderaterriblestrain。GilbertBlythe，thereareheapsofthingsIlongtosaytoyou，onlyitwouldbemean。\"
\"MissCorneliasaysthemforyou，\"saidGilbertwitharuefulsmile。\"ShecombsmedowneverytimeI
encounterher。Shemakesitplaintomethatsheregardsmeaslittlebetterthanamurderer，andthatshethinksitagreatpitythatDr。Daveeverletmestepintohisshoes。SheeventoldmethattheMethodistdoctorovertheharborwastobepreferredbeforeme。WithMissCorneliatheforceofcondemnationcannofurthergo。\"
\"IfCorneliaBryantwassick，itwouldnotbeDoctorDaveortheMethodistdoctorshewouldsendfor，\"
sniffedSusan。\"Shewouldhaveyououtofyourhard-earnedbedinthemiddleofthenight，doctor，dear，ifshetookaspellofmisery，thatshewould。
Andthenshewouldlikelysayyourbillwaspastallreason。Butdonotmindher，doctor，dear。Ittakesallkindsofpeopletomakeaworld。\"
NofurtherwordcamefromLeslieforsometime。TheMaydayscreptawayinasweetsuccessionandtheshoresofFourWindsHarborgreenedandbloomedandpurpled。OnedayinlateMayGilbertcamehometobemetbySusaninthestableyard。
\"IamafraidsomethinghasupsetMrs。Doctor，doctor，dear，\"shesaidmysteriously。\"Shegotaletterthisafternoonandsincethenshehasjustbeenwalkingroundthegardenandtalkingtoherself。Youknowitisnotgoodforhertobeonherfeetsomuch，doctor，dear。Shedidnotseefittotellmewhathernewswas，andIamnopry，doctor，dear，andneverwas，butitisplainsomethinghasupsether。Anditisnotgoodforhertobeupset。\"
Gilberthurriedratheranxiouslytothegarden。HadanythinghappenedatGreenGables？ButAnne，sittingontherusticseatbythebrook，didnotlooktroubled，thoughshewascertainlymuchexcited。Hereyesweretheirgrayest，andscarletspotsburnedonhercheeks。
\"Whathashappened，Anne？\"
Annegaveaqueerlittlelaugh。
\"Ithinkyou’llhardlybelieveitwhenItellyou，Gilbert。_I_can’tbelieveityet。AsSusansaidtheotherday，`Ifeellikeaflycomingtoliveinthesun——dazed-like。’It’sallsoincredible。I’vereadtheletterascoreoftimesandeverytimeit’sjustthesame——Ican’tbelievemyowneyes。Oh，Gilbert，youwereright——soright。Icanseethatclearlyenoughnow——andI’msoashamedofmyself——andwillyoueverreallyforgiveme？\"
\"Anne，I’llshakeyouifyoudon’tgrowcoherent。
Redmondwouldbeashamedofyou。WHAThashappened？\"
\"Youwon’tbelieveit——youwon’tbelieveit——\"
\"I’mgoingtophoneforUncleDave，\"saidGilbert，pretendingtostartforthehouse。
\"Sitdown，Gilbert。I’lltrytotellyou。I’vehadaletter，andoh，Gilbert，it’sallsoamazing——soincrediblyamazing——weneverthought——notoneofuseverdreamed——\"
\"Isuppose，\"saidGilbert，sittingdownwitharesignedair，\"theonlythingtodoinacaseofthiskindistohavepatienceandgoatthemattercategorically。Whomisyourletterfrom？\"
\"Leslie——and，oh，Gilbert——\"
\"Leslie！Whew！Whathasshetosay？What’sthenewsaboutDick？\"
Anneliftedtheletterandhelditout，calmlydramaticinamoment。
\"ThereisNODick！ThemanwehavethoughtDickMoore——whomeverybodyinFourWindshasbelievedfortwelveyearstobeDickMoore——ishiscousin，GeorgeMoore，ofNovaScotia，who，itseems，alwaysresembledhimverystrikingly。DickMoorediedofyellowfeverthirteenyearsagoinCuba。\"
CHAPTER32
MISSCORNELIADISCUSSESTHEAFFAIR
\"Anddoyoumeantotellme，Anne，dearie，thatDickMoorehasturnedoutnottobeDickMooreatallbutsomebodyelse？IsTHATwhatyouphoneduptometoday？\"
\"Yes，MissCornelia。Itisveryamazing，isn’tit？\"
\"It’s——it’s——justlikeaman，\"saidMissCorneliahelplessly。Shetookoffherhatwithtremblingfingers。ForonceinherlifeMissCorneliawasundeniablystaggered。
\"Ican’tseemtosenseit，Anne，\"shesaid。\"I’veheardyousayit——andIbelieveyou——butIcan’ttakeitin。DickMooreisdead——hasbeendeadalltheseyears——andLeslieisfree？\"
\"Yes。Thetruthhasmadeherfree。GilbertwasrightwhenhesaidthatversewasthegrandestintheBible。\"
\"Tellmeeverything，Anne，dearie。SinceIgotyourphoneI’vebeeninaregularmuddle，believeME。
CorneliaBryantwasneversokerflummuxedbefore。\"
\"Thereisn’taverygreatdealtotell。Leslie’sletterwasshort。Shedidn’tgointoparticulars。
Thisman——GeorgeMoore——hasrecoveredhismemoryandknowswhoheis。HesaysDicktookyellowfeverinCuba，andtheFourSistershadtosailwithouthim。
Georgestayedbehindtonursehim。Buthediedveryshortlyafterwards。
GeorgedidnotwriteLesliebecauseheintendedtocomerighthomeandtellherhimself。\"
\"Andwhydidn’the？\"
\"Isupposehisaccidentmusthaveintervened。GilbertsaysitisquitelikelythatGeorgeMooreremembersnothingofhisaccident，orwhatledtoit，andmayneverrememberit。ItprobablyhappenedverysoonafterDick’sdeath。WemayfindoutmoreparticularswhenLesliewritesagain。\"
\"Doesshesaywhatsheisgoingtodo？Whenisshecominghome？\"
\"ShesaysshewillstaywithGeorgeMooreuntilhecanleavethehospital。ShehaswrittentohispeopleinNovaScotia。ItseemsthatGeorge’sonlynearrelativeisamarriedsistermucholderthanhimself。ShewaslivingwhenGeorgesailedontheFourSisters，butofcoursewedonotknowwhatmayhavehappenedsince。
DidyoueverseeGeorgeMoore，MissCornelia？\"
\"Idid。Itisallcomingbacktome。HewasherevisitinghisUncleAbnereighteenyearsago，whenheandDickwouldbeaboutseventeen。Theyweredoublecousins，yousee。Theirfatherswerebrothersandtheirmothersweretwinsisters，andtheydidlookaterriblelotalike。Ofcourse，\"addedMissCorneliascornfully，\"itwasn’toneofthosefreakresemblancesyoureadofinnovelswheretwopeoplearesomuchalikethattheycanfilleachother’splacesandtheirnearestanddearestcan’ttellbetweenthem。InthosedaysyoucouldtelleasyenoughwhichwasGeorgeandwhichwasDick，ifyousawthemtogetherandnearathand。Apart，orsomedistanceaway，itwasn’tsoeasy。
Theyplayedlotsoftricksonpeopleandthoughtitgreatfun，thetwoscamps。GeorgeMoorewasalittletallerandagooddealfatterthanDick——thoughneitherofthemwaswhatyouwouldcallfat——theywerebothoftheleankind。DickhadhighercolorthanGeorge，andhishairwasashadelighter。Buttheirfeatureswerejustalike，andtheybothhadthatqueerfreakofeyes——oneblueandonehazel。Theyweren’tmuchalikeinanyotherway，though。Georgewasarealnicefellow，thoughhewasascalawagformischief，andsomesaidhehadalikingforaglasseventhen。ButeverybodylikedhimbetterthanDick。Hespentaboutamonthhere。Leslieneversawhim；shewasonlyabouteightorninethenandIremembernowthatshespentthatwholewinteroverharborwithhergrandmotherWest。CaptainJimwasaway，too——thatwasthewinterhewaswreckedontheMagdalens。Idon’tsupposeeitherheorLesliehadeverheardabouttheNovaScotiacousinlookingsomuchlikeDick。NobodyeverthoughtofhimwhenCaptainJimbroughtDick——George，I
shouldsay——home。Ofcourse，weallthoughtDickhadchangedconsiderable——he’dgotsolumpishandfat。Butweputthatdowntowhathadhappenedtohim，andnodoubtthatwasthereason，for，asI’vesaid，Georgewasn’tfattobeginwitheither。Andtherewasnootherwaywecouldhaveguessed，fortheman’ssenseswerecleangone。Ican’tseethatitisanywonderwewerealldeceived。Butit’sastaggeringthing。AndLesliehassacrificedthebestyearsofherlifetonursingamanwhohadn’tanyclaimonher！Oh，dratthemen！Nomatterwhattheydo，it’sthewrongthing。
Andnomatterwhotheyare，it’ssomebodytheyshouldn’tbe。Theydoexasperateme。\"
\"GilbertandCaptainJimaremen，anditisthroughthemthatthetruthhasbeendiscoveredatlast，\"saidAnne。
\"Well，Iadmitthat，\"concededMissCorneliareluctantly。\"I’msorryIrakedthedoctoroffso。
It’sthefirsttimeinmylifeI’veeverfeltashamedofanythingIsaidtoaman。Idon’tknowasIshalltellhimso，though。He’lljusthavetotakeitforgranted。Well，Anne，dearie，it’samercytheLorddoesn’tanswerallourprayers。I’vebeenprayinghardrightalongthattheoperationwouldn’tcureDick。OfcourseIdidn’tputitjustquitesoplain。Butthatwaswhatwasinthebackofmymind，andIhavenodoubttheLordknewit。\"
\"Well，Hehasansweredthespiritofyourprayer。Youreallywishedthatthingsshouldn’tbemadeanyharderforLeslie。I’mafraidthatinmysecretheartI’vebeenhopingtheoperationwouldn’tsucceed，andIamwholesomelyashamedofit。\"
\"HowdoesLeslieseemtotakeit？\"
\"Shewriteslikeonedazed。Ithinkthat，likeourselves，shehardlyrealisesityet。Shesays，`Itallseemslikeastrangedreamtome，Anne。’Thatistheonlyreferenceshemakestoherself。\"
\"Poorchild！Isupposewhenthechainsarestruckoffaprisonerhe’dfeelqueerandlostwithoutthemforawhile。Anne，dearie，here’sathoughtkeepscomingintomymind。WhataboutOwenFord？WebothknowLesliewasfondofhim。Diditeveroccurtoyouthathewasfondofher？\"
\"It——did——once，\"admittedAnne，feelingthatshemightsaysomuch。
\"Well，Ihadn’tanyreasontothinkhewas，butitjustappearedtomeheMUSTbe。Now，Anne，dearie，theLordknowsI’mnotamatch-maker，andIscornallsuchdoings。ButifIwereyouandwritingtothatFordmanI’djustmention，casual-like，whathashappened。Thatiswhat_I_’ddo。\"
\"OfcourseIwillmentionitwhenIwritehim，\"saidAnne，atrifledistantly。Somehow，thiswasathingshecouldnotdiscusswithMissCornelia。Andyet，shehadtoadmitthatthesamethoughthadbeenlurkinginhermindeversinceshehadheardofLeslie’sfreedom。
Butshewouldnotdesecrateitbyfreespeech。
\"Ofcoursethereisnogreatrush，dearie。ButDickMoore’sbeendeadforthirteenyearsandLesliehaswastedenoughofherlifeforhim。We’lljustseewhatcomesofit。AsforthisGeorgeMoore，who’sgoneandcomebacktolifewheneveryonethoughthewasdeadanddonefor，justlikeaman，I’mrealsorryforhim。Hewon’tseemtofitinanywhere。\"
\"Heisstillayoungman，andifherecoverscompletely，asseemslikely，hewillbeabletomakeaplaceforhimselfagain。Itmustbeverystrangeforhim，poorfellow。Isupposealltheseyearssincehisaccidentwillnotexistforhim。\"
CHAPTER33
LESLIERETURNS
AfortnightlaterLeslieMoorecamehomealonetotheoldhousewhereshehadspentsomanybitteryears。IntheJunetwilightshewentoverthefieldstoAnne’s，andappearedwithghost-likesuddennessinthescentedgarden。
\"Leslie！\"criedAnneinamazement。\"Wherehaveyousprungfrom？Weneverknewyouwerecoming。Whydidn’tyouwrite？Wewouldhavemetyou。\"
\"Icouldn’twritesomehow，Anne。Itseemedsofutiletotrytosayanythingwithpenandink。AndIwantedtogetbackquietlyandunobserved。\"
AnneputherarmsaboutLeslieandkissedher。Lesliereturnedthekisswarmly。Shelookedpaleandtired，andshegavealittlesighasshedroppeddownonthegrassesbesideagreatbedofdaffodilsthatweregleamingthroughthepale，silverytwilightlikegoldenstars。
\"Andyouhavecomehomealone，Leslie？\"
\"Yes。GeorgeMoore’ssistercametoMontrealandtookhimhomewithher。Poorfellow，hewassorrytopartwithme——thoughIwasastrangertohimwhenhismemoryfirstcameback。HeclungtomeinthosefirstharddayswhenhewastryingtorealisethatDick’sdeathwasnotthethingofyesterdaythatitseemedtohim。
Itwasallveryhardforhim。IhelpedhimallI
could。Whenhissistercameitwaseasierforhim，becauseitseemedtohimonlytheotherdaythathehadseenherlast。Fortunatelyshehadnotchangedmuch，andthathelpedhim，too。\"
\"Itisallsostrangeandwonderful，Leslie。Ithinkwenoneofusrealiseityet。\"
\"Icannot。WhenIwentintothehouseoverthereanhourago，IfeltthatitMUSTbeadream——thatDickmustbethere，withhischildishsmile，ashehadbeenforsolong。Anne，Iseemstunnedyet。I’mnotgladorsorry——orANYTHING。Ifeelasifsomethinghadbeentornsuddenlyoutofmylifeandleftaterriblehole。
IfeelasifIcouldn’tbe_I_——asifImusthavechangedintosomebodyelseandcouldn’tgetusedtoit。
Itgivesmeahorriblelonely，dazed，helplessfeeling。
It’sgoodtoseeyouagain——itseemsasifyouwereasortofanchorformydriftingsoul。Oh，Anne，I
dreaditall——thegossipandwondermentandquestioning。WhenIthinkofthat，IwishthatIneednothavecomehomeatall。Dr。DavewasatthestationwhenIcameoffthetrain——hebroughtmehome。Pooroldman，hefeelsverybadlybecausehetoldmeyearsagothatnothingcouldbedoneforDick。`Ihonestlythoughtso，Leslie，’hesaidtometoday。`ButI
shouldhavetoldyounottodependonmyopinion——I
shouldhavetoldyoutogotoaspecialist。IfIhad，youwouldhavebeensavedmanybitteryears，andpoorGeorgeMooremanywastedones。Iblamemyselfverymuch，Leslie。’Itoldhimnottodothat——hehaddonewhathethoughtright。Hehasalwaysbeensokindtome——Icouldn’tbeartoseehimworryingoverit。\"
\"AndDick——George，Imean？Ishismemoryfullyrestored？\"
\"Practically。Ofcourse，thereareagreatmanydetailshecan’trecallyet——butheremembersmoreandmoreeveryday。HewentoutforawalkontheeveningafterDickwasburied。HehadDick’smoneyandwatchonhim；hemeanttobringthemhometome，alongwithmyletter。Headmitshewenttoaplacewherethesailorsresorted——andheremembersdrinking——andnothingelse。Anne，Ishallneverforgetthemomentherememberedhisownname。Isawhimlookingatmewithanintelligentbutpuzzledexpression。Isaid，`Doyouknowme，Dick？’Heanswered，`Ineversawyoubefore。
Whoareyou？AndmynameisnotDick。IamGeorgeMoore，andDickdiedofyellowfeveryesterday！WhereamI？Whathashappenedtome？’I——Ifainted，Anne。
AndeversinceIhavefeltasifIwereinadream。\"
\"Youwillsoonadjustyourselftothisnewstateofthings，Leslie。Andyouareyoung——lifeisbeforeyou——youwillhavemanybeautifulyearsyet。\"
\"PerhapsIshallbeabletolookatitinthatwayafterawhile，Anne。JustnowIfeeltootiredandindifferenttothinkaboutthefuture。I’m——I’m——Anne，I’mlonely。ImissDick。Isn’titallverystrange？
Doyouknow，IwasreallyfondofpoorDick——George，I
supposeIshouldsay——justasIwouldhavebeenfondofahelplesschildwhodependedonmeforeverything。I
wouldneverhaveadmittedit——Iwasreallyashamedofit——because，yousee，IhadhatedanddespisedDicksomuchbeforehewentaway。WhenIheardthatCaptainJimwasbringinghimhomeIexpectedIwouldjustfeelthesametohim。ButIneverdid——althoughIcontinuedtoloathehimasIrememberedhimbefore。FromthetimehecamehomeIfeltonlypity——apitythathurtandwrungme。Isupposedthenthatitwasjustbecausehisaccidenthadmadehimsohelplessandchanged。ButnowIbelieveitwasbecausetherewasreallyadifferentpersonalitythere。Carloknewit，Anne——I
knownowthatCarloknewit。IalwaysthoughtitstrangethatCarloshouldn’thaveknownDick。Dogsareusuallysofaithful。ButHEknewitwasnothismasterwhohadcomeback，althoughnoneoftherestofusdid。IhadneverseenGeorgeMoore，youknow。I
remembernowthatDickoncementionedcasuallythathehadacousininNovaScotiawholookedasmuchlikehimasatwin；butthethinghadgoneoutofmymemory，andinanycaseIwouldneverhavethoughtitofanyimportance。Yousee，itneveroccurredtometoquestionDick’sidentity。Anychangeinhimseemedtomejusttheresultoftheaccident。
\"Oh，Anne，thatnightinAprilwhenGilberttoldmehethoughtDickmightbecured！Icanneverforgetit。
ItseemedtomethatIhadoncebeenaprisonerinahideouscageoftorture，andthenthedoorhadbeenopenedandIcouldgetout。IwasstillchainedtothecagebutIwasnotinit。AndthatnightIfeltthatamercilesshandwasdrawingmebackintothecage——backtoatortureevenmoreterriblethanithadoncebeen。
Ididn’tblameGilbert。Ifelthewasright。Andhehadbeenverygood——hesaidthatif，inviewoftheexpenseanduncertaintyoftheoperation，Ishoulddecidenottoriskit，hewouldnotblamemeintheleast。ButIknewhowIoughttodecide——andI
couldn’tfaceit。AllnightIwalkedthefloorlikeamadwoman，tryingtocompelmyselftofaceit。I
couldn’t，Anne——IthoughtIcouldn’t——andwhenmorningbrokeIsetmyteethandresolvedthatIWOULDN’T。I
wouldletthingsremainastheywere。Itwasverywicked，Iknow。ItwouldhavebeenjustpunishmentforsuchwickednessifIhadjustbeenlefttoabidebythatdecision。Ikepttoitallday。ThatafternoonI
hadtogouptotheGlentodosomeshopping。ItwasoneofDick’squiet，drowsydays，soIlefthimalone。
IwasgonealittlelongerthanIhadexpected，andhemissedme。Hefeltlonely。AndwhenIgothome，herantomeetmejustlikeachild，withsuchapleasedsmileonhisface。Somehow，Anne，Ijustgavewaythen。ThatsmileonhispoorvacantfacewasmorethanIcouldendure。IfeltasifIweredenyingachildthechancetogrowanddevelop。IknewthatImustgivehimhischance，nomatterwhattheconsequencesmightbe。SoIcameoverandtoldGilbert。Oh，Anne，youmusthavethoughtmehatefulinthoseweeksbeforeIwentaway。Ididn’tmeantobe——butIcouldn’tthinkofanythingexceptwhatIhadtodo，andeverythingandeverybodyaboutmewerelikeshadows。\"
\"Iknow——Iunderstood，Leslie。Andnowitisallover——yourchainisbroken——thereisnocage。\"
\"Thereisnocage，\"repeatedLeslieabsently，pluckingatthefringinggrasseswithherslender，brownhands。
\"But——itdoesn’tseemasiftherewereanythingelse，Anne。You——yourememberwhatItoldyouofmyfollythatnightonthesand-bar？Ifindonedoesn’tgetoverbeingafoolveryquickly。SometimesIthinktherearepeoplewhoarefoolsforever。Andtobeafool——ofthatkind——isalmostasbadasbeinga——adogonachain。\"
\"Youwillfeelverydifferentlyafteryougetoverbeingtiredandbewildered，\"saidAnne，who，knowingacertainthingthatLesliedidnotknow，didnotfeelherselfcalledupontowasteovermuchsympathy。
LeslielaidhersplendidgoldenheadagainstAnne’sknee。
\"Anyhow，IhaveYOU，\"shesaid。\"Lifecan’tbealtogetheremptywithsuchafriend。Anne，patmyhead——justasifIwerealittlegirl——MOTHERmeabit——andletmetellyouwhilemystubborntongueisloosedalittlejustwhatyouandyourcomradeshiphavemeanttomesincethatnightImetyouontherockshore。\"
CHAPTER34
THESHIPO’DREAMSCOMESTOHARBOR
Onemorning，whenawindygoldensunrisewasbillowingoverthegulfinwavesoflight，acertainwearystorkflewoverthebarofFourWindsHarboronhiswayfromtheLandofEveningStars。Underhiswingwastuckedasleepy，starry-eyed，littlecreature。Thestorkwastired，andhelookedwistfullyabouthim。Heknewhewassomewherenearhisdestination，buthecouldnotyetseeit。Thebig，whitelight-houseontheredsandstonecliffhaditsgoodpoints；butnostorkpossessedofanygumptionwouldleaveanew，velvetbabythere。Anoldgrayhouse，surroundedbywillows，inablossomybrookvalley，lookedmorepromising，butdidnotseemquitethethingeither。Thestaringgreenabodefurtheronwasmanifestlyoutofthequestion。Thenthestorkbrightenedup。Hehadcaughtsightoftheveryplace——alittlewhitehousenestledagainstabig，whisperingfirwood，withaspiralofbluesmokewindingupfromitskitchenchimney——ahousewhichjustlookedasifitweremeantforbabies。Thestorkgaveasighofsatisfaction，andsoftlyalightedontheridge-pole。
HalfanhourlaterGilbertrandownthehallandtappedonthespare-roomdoor。AdrowsyvoiceansweredhimandinamomentMarilla’spale，scaredfacepeepedoutfrombehindthedoor。
\"Marilla，Annehassentmetotellyouthatacertainyounggentlemanhasarrivedhere。Hehasn’tbroughtmuchluggagewithhim，butheevidentlymeanstostay。\"
\"Forpity’ssake！\"saidMarillablankly。\"Youdon’tmeantotellme，Gilbert，thatit’sallover。Whywasn’tIcalled？\"
\"Annewouldn’tletusdisturbyouwhentherewasnoneed。Nobodywascalleduntilabouttwohoursago。
Therewasno`passageperilous’thistime。\"
\"And——and——Gilbert——willthisbabylive？\"
\"Hecertainlywill。Heweighstenpoundsand——why，listentohim。Nothingwrongwithhislungs，isthere？
Thenursesayshishairwillbered。Anneisfuriouswithher，andI’mtickledtodeath。\"
Thatwasawonderfuldayinthelittlehouseofdreams。
\"Thebestdreamofallhascometrue，\"saidAnne，paleandrapturous。\"Oh，Marilla，Ihardlydarebelieveit，afterthathorribledaylastsummer。Ihavehadaheartacheeversincethen——butitisgonenow。\"
\"ThisbabywilltakeJoy’splace，\"saidMarilla。
\"Oh，no，no，NO，Marilla。Hecan’t——nothingcaneverdothat。Hehashisownplace，mydear，weeman-child。ButlittleJoyhashers，andalwayswillhaveit。Ifshehadlivedshewouldhavebeenoverayearold。Shewouldhavebeentoddlingaroundonhertinyfeetandlispingafewwords。Icanseehersoplainly，Marilla。Oh，IknownowthatCaptainJimwasrightwhenhesaidGodwouldmanagebetterthanthatmybabywouldseemastrangertomewhenIfoundherBeyond。I’velearnedTHATthispastyear。I’vefollowedherdevelopmentdaybydayandweekbyweek——I
alwaysshall。Ishallknowjusthowshegrowsfromyeartoyear——andwhenImeetheragainI’llknowher——shewon’tbeastranger。Oh，Marilla，LOOKathisdear，darlingtoes！Isn’titstrangetheyshouldbesoperfect？\"
\"Itwouldbestrangeriftheyweren’t，\"saidMarillacrisply。Nowthatallwassafelyover，Marillawasherselfagain。
\"Oh，Iknow——butitseemsasiftheycouldn’tbequiteFINISHED，youknow——andtheyare，eventothetinynails。Andhishands——JUSTlookathishands，Marilla。\"
\"Theyappeartobeagooddeallikehands，\"Marillaconceded。
\"Seehowheclingstomyfinger。I’msureheknowsmealready。Hecrieswhenthenursetakeshimaway。Oh，Marilla，doyouthink——youdon’tthink，doyou——thathishairisgoingtobered？\"
\"Idon’tseemuchhairofanycolor，\"saidMarilla。
\"Iwouldn’tworryaboutit，ifIwereyou，untilitbecomesvisible。\"
\"Marilla，heHAShair——lookatthatfinelittledownalloverhishead。Anyway，nursesayshiseyeswillbehazelandhisforeheadisexactlylikeGilbert’s。\"
\"Andhehasthenicestlittleears，Mrs。Doctor，dear，\"saidSusan。\"ThefirstthingIdidwastolookathisears。Hairisdeceitfulandnosesandeyeschange，andyoucannottellwhatisgoingtocomeofthem，butearsisearsfromstarttofinish，andyoualwaysknowwhereyouarewiththem。Justlookattheirshape——andtheyaresetrightbackagainsthisprecioushead。Youwillneverneedtobeashamedofhisears，Mrs。Doctor，dear。\"
Anne’sconvalescencewasrapidandhappy。Folkscameandworshippedthebaby，aspeoplehavebowedbeforethekingshipofthenew-bornsincelongbeforetheWiseMenoftheEastkneltinhomagetotheRoyalBabeoftheBethlehemmanger。Leslie，slowlyfindingherselfamidthenewconditionsofherlife，hoveredoverit，likeabeautiful，golden-crownedMadonna。MissCornelianurseditasknackilyascouldanymotherinIsrael。CaptainJimheldthesmallcreatureinhisbigbrownhandsandgazedtenderlyatit，witheyesthatsawthechildrenwhohadneverbeenborntohim。
\"Whatareyougoingtocallhim？\"askedMissCornelia。
\"Annehassettledhisname，\"answeredGilbert。
\"JamesMatthew——afterthetwofinestgentlemenI’veeverknown——notevensavingyourpresence，\"saidAnnewithasaucyglanceatGilbert。
Gilbertsmiled。
\"IneverknewMatthewverywell；hewassoshyweboyscouldn’tgetacquaintedwithhim——butIquiteagreewithyouthatCaptainJimisoneoftherarestandfinestsoulsGodeverclothedinclay。Heissodelightedoverthefactthatwehavegivenhisnametooursmalllad。Itseemshehasnoothernamesake。\"
\"Well，JamesMatthewisanamethatwillwearwellandnotfadeinthewashing，\"saidMissCornelia。\"I’mgladyoudidn’tloadhimdownwithsomehighfalutin，romanticnamethathe’dbeashamedofwhenhegetstobeagrandfather。Mrs。WilliamDrewattheGlenhascalledherbabyBertieShakespeare。Quiteacombination，isn’tit？AndI’mgladyouhaven’thadmuchtroublepickingonaname。Somefolkshaveanawfultime。WhentheStanleyFlaggs’firstboywasborntherewassomuchrivalryastowhothechildshouldbenamedforthatthepoorlittlesoulhadtogofortwoyearswithoutaname。Thenabrothercamealongandthereitwas——`BigBaby’and`LittleBaby。’
FinallytheycalledBigBabyPeterandLittleBabyIsaac，afterthetwograndfathers，andhadthembothchristenedtogether。Andeachtriedtoseeifitcouldn’thowltheotherdown。YouknowthatHighlandScotchfamilyofMacNabsbackoftheGlen？They’vegottwelveboysandtheoldestandtheyoungestarebothcalledNeil——BigNeilandLittleNeilinthesamefamily。Well，Is’posetheyranoutofnames。\"
\"Ihavereadsomewhere，\"laughedAnne，\"thatthefirstchildisapoembutthetenthisveryprosyprose。
PerhapsMrs。MacNabthoughtthatthetwelfthwasmerelyanoldtalere-told。\"
\"Well，there’ssomethingtobesaidforlargefamilies，\"saidMissCornelia，withasigh。\"IwasanonlychildforeightyearsandIdidlongforabrotherandsister。Mothertoldmetoprayforone——andprayIdid，believeME。Well，onedayAuntNelliecametomeandsaid，`Cornelia，thereisalittlebrotherforyouupstairsinyourma’sroom。Youcangoupandseehim。’IwassoexcitedanddelightedIjustflewupstairs。AndoldMrs。Flaggliftedupthebabyformetosee。Lord，Anne，dearie，Ineverwassodisappointedinmylife。Yousee，I’dbeenprayingforABROTHERTWOYEARSOLDERTHANMYSELF。\"
\"Howlongdidittakeyoutogetoveryourdisappointment？\"askedAnne，amidherlaughter。
\"Well，IhadaspiteatProvidenceforagoodspell，andforweeksIwouldn’tevenlookatthebaby。Nobodyknewwhy，forInevertold。Thenhebegantogetrealcute，andheldouthisweehandstomeandIbegantogetfondofhim。ButIdidn’tgetreallyreconciledtohimuntilonedayaschoolchumcametoseehimandsaidshethoughthewasawfulsmallforhisage。I
justgotboilingmad，andIsailedrightintoher，andtoldhershedidn’tknowanicebabywhenshesawone，andourswasthenicestbabyintheworld。AndafterthatIjustworshippedhim。MotherdiedbeforehewasthreeyearsoldandIwassisterandmothertohimboth。Poorlittlelad，hewasneverstrong，andhediedwhenhewasn’tmuchovertwenty。SeemstomeI’dhavegivenanythingonearth，Anne，dearie，ifhe’donlylived。\"
