24 The Bend in the Road

CHAPTER 24 The Bend in the Road Marilla kept her appointment with the eye doctor. She told Anne, "He says that if I give up all reading and sewing and wear these new glasses, my headaches should go away. But if not, there's a chance I will go blind." Anne gasped. "Don't give up, Marilla. The doctor thinks you might be cured." "But what am I to do, Anne, if I can't read

or sew?" Marilla put on a brave face. "Never mind that now, child. Why don't you make me a cup of tea? I'm sure that will make me feel better." A few days later, Anne saw Marilla talking with John Sadler. When Marilla came back into the kitchen, she told Anne, "He heard I was going to sell Green Gables and wants to buy it." "Buy it! Buy Green Gables?" Anne wondered if she had heard right. "Oh, Marilla, no!" "Anne, I don't know what else to do. I've thought this through. You are leaving and I can't run this place by myself." "But you won't be alone, Marilla. I'm not going to Redmond," Anne cried. "Not going to Redmond?! Whatever do you mean?" "I'm not going to take the scholarship. You

can't really believe I'd leave you here alone." Anne knelt beside Marilla's chair. "I have a plan. "Mr. Barry wants to rent the farm for next year. I can't take the job at the Avonlea school because it's been promised to Gilbert. But I've applied for work over at the Carmody school. It's a bit far away, but we'll manage." Marilla listened, astonished. "But Anne, you can't give up college. That's too much!" "After you took me in and raised me?" Anne asked. "Nothing is too much for you, Marilla." "But your studies?" "Oh, I won't give them up. I can study at home and take courses by mail." Anne was starting to cheer up. "I have dozens of plans. You won't be able to keep up with them all." "Well, I'm used to that," Marilla laughed.

When the rest of Avonlea heard the latest from Green Gables, there was much talk. As soon as Gilbert heard, he made some plans of his own. Mrs. Lynde was the one to reveal them to Anne. "You won't be going to Carmody this fall, Anne-girl," Mrs. Lynde said. "It seems Gilbert Blythe asked the Avonlea trustees to take you, instead. So you won't have to travel back and forth. He'll teach at White Sands and board at the hotel. That's awful generous of him. Everyone knows he's saving for college." "Oh, no," Anne whispered. "Gilbert shouldn't do that. That's too kind." Her eyes began to water. The next day, Anne took a stroll through the orchard and around the Lake of Shining Waters. She noticed a tall boy walking toward her, whistling.

It was Gilbert. As soon as he saw Anne, he stopped whistling and turned his head. He started to pass without a hello. "Gilbert," she said. Her cheeks began to blush. "I wanted to thank you for giving up the school for me. It was very good of you." She held out her hand to him. He took the offered hand eagerly. "I was glad to do a small service. Are we to be friends after this? Have you really forgiven me?"

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