14 Miss Stacy and Her Pupils Put On a Concert

CHAPTER 14 Miss Stacy and Her Pupils Put On a Concert The new school year started with much excitement. As soon as Anne met Miss Stacy, she knew her new teacher would be wonderful. "You would love her voice, Marilla," Anne said. As always, she told every single detail

about her day. "When she reads poems out loud it's perfectly lovely!" Marilla continued with her work, rolling out piecrusts. She was used to hearing Anne's constant chatter. Anne enjoyed her studies a great deal— even math didn't seem so awful. She still had to devote more time to it than other subjects. But she finally could make sense of it. She felt like all her hard work was paying off. "Miss Stacy said we'll be putting on a play this year. And would you believe it, Marilla? I'm to play the Fairy Queen! The whole class clapped when she told us. I'm ever so nervous and excited. I've already learned some of my lines—even though it's not until Christmastime." Poor Matthew! Having Anne in a play meant Green Gables was often filled with excited, giggling girls. He was so shy that he

could barely say "hello." One day, while watching them put on their coats, he noticed something strange. All the girls wore pretty, frilly dresses with puffed sleeves. All except Anne. Her dress was plain with straight lines and an apron. For the first time, Matthew noticed that Anne was dressed the same as Marilla. Matthew was determined to get Anne a dress with puffed sleeves. The very next day, he went to the store in Avonlea to buy one. But he didn't have the nerve to talk to the salesgirl. So Matthew went to Mrs. Lynde's to see if she could make Anne a dress. "I'd like it to be a surprise, if you don't mind," he said. "For Anne and Marilla." "Don't you worry about a thing," Mrs. Lynde said. "I think it's time that girl had something new to wear. Marilla dresses her

like an old lady." Matthew surprised Anne with her new dress on Christmas morning. The night before, Marilla learned of the present and wasn't too pleased. "She shouldn't be thinking about silly things like pretty dresses," Marilla said. Matthew didn't expect Anne's reaction, though. When she burst into tears, he thought he must have done something wrong. "Do-do you n-not like them, Anne?" Matthew stuttered. "Oh, Matthew." Anne could barely get the words out. She draped the dress over the back of a chair. It was dark brown with a matching silk headband. She stared at it with her hands clasped in front of her. "It's the most beautiful, most wonderful, most perfect dress I have ever seen!"

Anne threw her arms around Matthew's neck and kissed his cheek. "And puffed sleeves, Matthew! It's everything I dreamed it would be." Matthew blushed more than ever. "Well now, Anne," he said. "That's just grand." Marilla watched from the side. She was surprised to realize she was quite happy about it. She could even feel her eyes well up a bit. Marilla quickly announced they should sit down for breakfast and stop this silliness. She was in the kitchen before they could notice her wiping her eyes. On the night of the Avonlea school play, Anne wore her new brown dress. She stood on stage and read her lines with confidence. "Did you see Gilbert?" Diana asked afterward. "Diana," Anne said haughtily, "you know that I have no time for that boy."

"But Anne," Diana said, "as you left the stage, a flower fell from your bouquet. I saw Gilbert— with my own eyes—pick it up and put it in his pocket. Isn't that lovely?" "It's of no concern of mine what he does," Anne replied. "Please don't even bother to mention his name to me. I simply don't care." Diana looked at her best friend and thought perhaps there was a bit more to this story. It was hard to settle down after the excitement of the school play. Anne decided that they should form a story club. "We simply can't go back to life before the