bitter agony when she believed Gilbert dying, and by it
she had sat in speechless happiness the night of her betrothal. Many
vigils of joy and some of sorrow had been kept there; and today she
must leave it forever. Henceforth it would be hers no more;
fifteen-year-old Dora was to inherit it when she had gone. Nor did
Anne wish it otherwise; the little room was sacred to youth and
girlhood--to the past that was to close today before the chapter of
wifehood opened.

Green Gables was a busy and joyous house that forenoon. Diana arrived
early, with little Fred and Small Anne Cordelia, to lend a hand. Davy
and Dora, the Green Gables twins, whisked the babies off to the garden.

"Don't let Small Anne Cordelia spoil her clothes," warned Diana
anxiously.

"You needn't be afraid to trust her with Dora," said Marilla. "That
child is more sensible and careful than most of the mothers I've known.
She's really a wonder in some ways. Not much like that other
harum-scarum I brought up."

Marilla smiled across her chicken salad at Anne. It might even be
suspected that she liked the harum-scarum best after all.

"Those twins are real nice children," said Mrs. Rachel, when she was
sure they were out of earshot. "Dora is so womanly and helpful, and
Davy is developing into a very smart boy. He isn't the holy terror for
mischief he used to be."

"I never was so distracted in my life as I was the first six months he
was here," acknowledged Marilla. "After that I suppose I got used to
him. He's taken a great notion to farming lately, and wants me to let
him try running the farm next year. I may, for Mr. Barry doesn't think
he'll want to rent it much longer, and some new arrangement will have
to be made."

"Well, you certainly have a lovely day for your wedding, Anne," said
Diana, as she slipped a voluminous apron over her silken array. "You
couldn't have had a finer one if you'd ordered it from Eaton's."

"Indeed, there's too much money going out of this Island to that same
Eaton's," said Mrs. Lynde indignantly. She had strong views on the
subject of octopus-like department stores, and never lost an
opportunity of airing them. "And as for those catalogues of theirs,
they're the Avonlea girls' Bible now, that's what. They pore over them
on Sundays instead of studying the Holy Scriptures."

"Well, they're splendid to amuse children with," said Diana. "Fred and
Small Anne look at the pictures by the hour."

"_I_