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joy of living； isn't it？〃
〃If I had my way I'd shut everything out of your life but
happiness and pleasure； Anne；〃 said Gilbert in the tone that
meant 〃danger ahead。〃
〃Then you would be very unwise；〃 rejoined Anne hastily。 〃I'm sure
no life can be properly developed and rounded out without some
trial and sorrow though I suppose it is only when we are pretty
comfortable that we admit it。 Come the others have got to the
pavilion and are beckoning to us。〃
They all sat down in the little pavilion to watch an autumn
sunset of deep red fire and pallid gold。 To their left lay
Kingsport； its roofs and spires dim in their shroud of violet smoke。
To their right lay the harbor； taking on tints of rose and copper as
it stretched out into the sunset。 Before them the water shimmered；
satin smooth and silver gray； and beyond； clean shaven William's
Island loomed out of the mist； guarding the town like a sturdy bulldog。
Its lighthouse beacon flared through the mist like a baleful star；
and was answered by another in the far horizon。
〃Did you ever see such a strong…looking place？〃 asked Philippa。
〃I don't want William's Island especially； but I'm sure I couldn't
get it if I did。 Look at that sentry on the summit of the fort；
right beside the flag。 Doesn't he look as if he had stepped out
of a romance？〃
〃Speaking of romance；〃 said Priscilla； 〃we've been looking for
heather but； of course； we couldn't find any。 It's too late
in the season； I suppose。〃
〃Heather！〃 exclaimed Anne。 〃Heather doesn't grow in America；
does it？〃
〃There are just two patches of it in the whole continent；〃 said Phil；
〃one right here in the park； and one somewhere else in Nova Scotia；
I forget where。 The famous Highland Regiment； the Black Watch；
camped here one year； and； when the men shook out the straw of
their beds in the spring； some seeds of heather took root。〃
〃Oh； how delightful！〃 said enchanted Anne。
〃Let's go home around by Spofford Avenue；〃 suggested Gilbert。
〃We can see all ‘the handsome houses where the wealthy nobles
dwell。' Spofford Avenue is the finest residential street in
Kingsport。 Nobody can build on it unless he's a millionaire。〃
〃Oh； do；〃 said Phil。 〃There's a perfectly killing little place I
want to show you； Anne。 IT wasn't built by a millionaire。 It's
the first place after you leave the park； and must have grown
while Spofford Avenue was still a country road。 It DID grow
it wasn't built！ I don't care for the houses on the Avenue。
They're too brand new and plateglassy。 But this little spot is a
dream and its name but wait till you see it。〃
They saw it as they walked up the pine…fringed hill from the park。
Just on the crest； where Spofford Avenue petered out into a
plain road； was a little white frame house with groups of pines
on either side of it； stretching their arms protectingly over its
low roof。 It was covered with red and gold vines； through which
its green…shuttered windows peeped。 Before it was a tiny garden；
surrounded by a low stone wall。 October though it was； the
garden was still very sweet with dear； old…fashioned； unworldly
flowers and shrubs sweet may； southern…wood； lemon verbena；
alyssum； petunias； marigolds and chrysanthemums。 A tiny brick
wall； in herring…bone pattern； led from the gate to the front
porch。 The whole place might have been transplanted from some
remote country village； yet there was something about it that
made its nearest neighbor； the big lawn…encircled palace of a
tobacco king； look exceedingly crude and showy and ill…bred by
contrast。 As Phil said； it was the difference between being born
and being made。
〃It's the dearest place I ever saw；〃 said Anne delightedly。 〃It
gives me one of my old； delightful funny aches。 It's dearer and
quainter than even Miss Lavendar's stone house。〃
〃It's the name I want you to notice especially；〃 said Phil。
〃Look in white letters； around the archway over the gate。
‘Patty's Place。' Isn't that killing？ Especially on this Avenue
of Pinehursts and Elmwolds and Cedarcrofts？ ‘Patty's Place；'
if you please！ I adore it。〃
〃Have you any idea who Patty is？〃 asked Priscilla。
〃Patty Spofford is the name of the old lady who owns it； I've
discovered。 She lives there with her niece； and they've lived
there for hundreds of years； more or less maybe a little less；
Anne。 Exaggeration is merely a flight of poetic fancy。 I understand
that wealthy folk have tried to buy the lot time and again it's
really worth a small fortune now； you know but ‘Patty' won't sell
upon any consideration。 And there's an apple orchard behind the house
in place of a back yard you'll see it when we get a little past
a real apple orchard on Spofford Avenue！〃
〃I'm going to dream about ‘Patty's Place' tonight；〃 said Anne。
〃Why； I feel as if I belonged to it。 I wonder if； by any chance；
we'll ever see the inside of it。〃
〃It isn't likely；〃 said Priscilla。
Anne smiled mysteriously。
〃No； it isn't likely。 But I believe it will happen。 I have a
queer； creepy； crawly feeling you can call it a presentiment；
if you like that ‘Patty's Place' and I are going to be better
acquainted yet。〃
Chapter VII
Home Again
Those first three weeks at Redmond had seemed long； but the rest
of the term flew by on wings of wind。 Before they realized it
the Redmond students found themselves in the grind of Christmas
examinations； emerging therefrom more or less triumphantly。 The
honor of leading in the Freshman classes fluctuated between Anne；
Gilbert and Philippa； Priscilla did very well； Charlie Sloane
scraped through respectably； and comported himself as complacently
as if he had led in everything。
〃I can't really believe that this time tomorrow I'll be in Green Gables；〃
said Anne on the night before departure。 〃But I shall be。 And you； Phil；
will be in Bolingbroke with Alec and Alonzo。〃
〃I'm longing to see them；〃 admitted Phil； between the chocolate
she was nibbling。 〃They really are such dear boys； you know。
There's to be no end of dances and drives and general jamborees。
I shall never forgive you； Queen Anne； for not coming home with
me for the holidays。〃
〃‘Never' means three days with you； Phil。 It was dear of you to
ask me and I'd love to go to Bolingbroke some day。 But I
can't go this year I MUST go home。 You don't know how my
heart longs for it。〃
〃You won't have much of a time；〃 said Phil scornfully。 〃There'll
be one or two quilting parties； I suppose； and all the old
gossips will talk you over to your face and behind your back。
You'll die of lonesomeness； child。〃
〃In Avonlea？〃 said Anne； highly amused。
〃Now； if you'd come with me you'd have a perfectly gorgeous time。
Bolingbroke would go wild over you； Queen Anne your hair and
your style and； oh； everything！ You're so DIFFERENT。 You'd be
such a success and I wou