19 The Pass List Is Out

CHAPTER 19 The Pass List Is Out Soon Anne and the study group were heading off to take the exam. "Marilla, I just don't know what I'll do if I fail," said Anne. "Why, you'll go back to school and try again next year," Marilla replied. "I don't think I'd have the heart for it. If

Gil— I mean, if the others passed and I didn't, it would crush me." Before Anne set off to take the exam, Matthew declared that he knew she would beat the entire island. "You'll have the highest score. I just know it," he said. It was a wonderful feeling to have someone with that much faith in her, but Anne worried about disappointing him. "That will never happen," Matthew said with so much pride that Anne started to blush. What Anne didn't know—because Marilla didn't tell her—was that Matthew wasn't feeling very well. His heart was bothering him. Even though Jerry Boot still helped him on the farm, he was tired out. The exams were very hard and took several days. She and Gilbert often passed each other in the hall, but didn't say "hello." Anne

wished she had accepted his offer of friendship. It would have been nice to have him to talk to. They all returned to Avonlea. It would take three long, miserable weeks for the test scores to come out. One day, Diana ran over to Green Gables with a newspaper in hand. "Anne," she called. "Anne! You've passed! And not just

passed—you've come in first—you and Gilbert—it's a tie!" Anne hugged her best friend in the whole world. She took the paper and ran to show Matthew.