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economical soul cannot bear to ‘waste room space' not because
they need to or have to； as Miss Ada has told me seven times
since Saturday night。 As for our rooms； I admit they are hall
bedrooms； and mine does look out on the back yard。 Your room is
a front one and looks out on Old St。 John's graveyard； which is
just across the street。〃
〃That sounds gruesome；〃 shivered Anne。 〃I think I'd rather have
the back yard view。〃
〃Oh； no； you wouldn't。 Wait and see。 Old St。 John's is a
darling place。 It's been a graveyard so long that it's ceased to
be one and has become one of the sights of Kingsport。 I was all
through it yesterday for a pleasure exertion。 There's a big
stone wall and a row of enormous trees all around it； and rows of
trees all through it； and the queerest old tombstones； with the
queerest and quaintest inscriptions。 You'll go there to study； Anne；
see if you don't。 Of course； nobody is ever buried there now。
But a few years ago they put up a beautiful monument to the
memory of Nova Scotian soldiers who fell in the Crimean War。
It is just opposite the entrance gates and there's ‘scope for
imagination' in it； as you used to say。 Here's your trunk at
last and the boys coming to say good night。 Must I really
shake hands with Charlie Sloane； Anne？ His hands are always so
cold and fishy…feeling。 We must ask them to call occasionally。
Miss Hannah gravely told me we could have ‘young gentlemen
callers' two evenings in the week； if they went away at a
reasonable hour； and Miss Ada asked me； smiling； please to be
sure they didn't sit on her beautiful cushions。 I promised to
see to it； but goodness knows where else they CAN sit； unless
they sit on the floor； for there are cushions on EVERYTHING。
Miss Ada even has an elaborate Battenburg one on top of the piano。〃
Anne was laughing by this time。 Priscilla's gay chatter had the
intended effect of cheering her up； homesickness vanished for the
time being； and did not even return in full force when she
finally found herself alone in her little bedroom。 She went to
her window and looked out。 The street below was dim and quiet。
Across it the moon was shining above the trees in Old St。 John's；
just behind the great dark head of the lion on the monument。
Anne wondered if it could have been only that morning that
she had left Green Gables。 She had the sense of a long
passage of time which one day of change and travel gives。
〃I suppose that very moon is looking down on Green Gables now；〃
she mused。 〃But I won't think about it that way homesickness
lies。 I'm not even going to have my good cry。 I'll put that off
to a more convenient season； and just now I'll go calmly and
sensibly to bed and to sleep。〃
Chapter IV
April's Lady
Kingsport is a quaint old town； hearking back to early Colonial
days； and wrapped in its ancient atmosphere； as some fine old dame
in garments fashioned like those of her youth。 Here and there
it sprouts out into modernity； but at heart it is still unspoiled；
it is full of curious relics； and haloed by the romance of many
legends of the past。 Once it was a mere frontier station on the
fringe of the wilderness； and those were the days when Indians
kept life from being monotonous to the settlers。 Then it grew
to be a bone of contention between the British and the French；
being occupied now by the one and now by the other； emerging from
each occupation with some fresh scar of battling nations branded on it。
It has in its park a martello tower； autographed all over
by tourists； a dismantled old French fort on the hills beyond
the town； and several antiquated cannon in its public squares。
It has other historic spots also； which may be hunted out by the
curious； and none is more quaint and delightful than Old St。 John's
Cemetery at the very core of the town； with streets of quiet；
old…time houses on two sides； and busy； bustling； modern
thoroughfares on the others。 Every citizen of Kingsport feels a
thrill of possessive pride in Old St。 John's； for； if he be of
any pretensions at all； he has an ancestor buried there； with a
queer； crooked slab at his head； or else sprawling protectively
over the grave； on which all the main facts of his history are
recorded。 For the most part no great art or skill was lavished
on those old tombstones。 The larger number are of roughly
chiselled brown or gray native stone； and only in a few cases is
there any attempt at ornamentation。 Some are adorned with skull
and cross…bones； and this grizzly decoration is frequently
coupled with a cherub's head。 Many are prostrate and in ruins。
Into almost all Time's tooth has been gnawing； until some
inscriptions have been completely effaced； and others can only be
deciphered with difficulty。 The graveyard is very full and very
bowery； for it is surrounded and intersected by rows of elms and
willows； beneath whose shade the sleepers must lie very dreamlessly；
forever crooned to by the winds and leaves over them； and quite
undisturbed by the clamor of traffic just beyond。
Anne took the first of many rambles in Old St。 John's the next afternoon。
She and Priscilla had gone to Redmond in the forenoon and registered as
students； after which there was nothing more to do that day。 The girls
gladly made their escape； for it was not exhilarating to be surrounded
by crowds of strangers； most of whom had a rather alien appearance；
as if not quite sure where they belonged。
The 〃freshettes〃 stood about in detached groups of two or three；
looking askance at each other； the 〃freshies；〃 wiser in their day
and generation； had banded themselves together on the big
staircase of the entrance hall； where they were shouting out
glees with all the vigor of youthful lungs； as a species of
defiance to their traditional enemies； the Sophomores； a few of
whom were prowling loftily about； looking properly disdainful of
the 〃unlicked cubs〃 on the stairs。 Gilbert and Charlie were
nowhere to be seen。
〃Little did I think the day would ever come when I'd be glad of
the sight of a Sloane；〃 said Priscilla； as they crossed the
campus； 〃but I'd welcome Charlie's goggle eyes almost
ecstatically。 At least； they'd be familiar eyes。〃
〃Oh；〃 sighed Anne。 〃I can't describe how I felt when I was
standing there； waiting my turn to be registered as
insignificant as the teeniest drop in a most enormous bucket。
It's bad enough to feel insignificant； but it's unbearable to
have it grained into your soul that you will never； can never；
be anything but insignificant； and that is how I did feel
as if I were invisible to the naked eye and some of those Sophs
might step on me。 I knew I would go down to my grave unwept；
unhonored and unsung。〃
〃Wait till next year；〃 comforted Priscilla。 〃Then we'll be able
to look as bored and sophisticated as any Sophomore of them all。
No doubt it is rather dreadful to feel insignificant； b