I'll never
find anywhere else in the world--love that's waiting for me. That makes
my picture a masterpiece, doesn't it, even if the colors are not very
brilliant?"

Phil silently got up, tossed her box of chocolates away, went up to
Anne, and put her arms about her.

"Anne, I wish I was like you," she said soberly.

Diana met Anne at the Carmody station the next night, and they drove
home together under silent, star-sown depths of sky. Green Gables had a
very festal appearance as they drove up the lane. There was a light in
every window, the glow breaking out through the darkness like flame-red
blossoms swung against the dark background of the Haunted Wood. And in
the yard was a brave bonfire with two gay little figures dancing around
it, one of which gave an unearthly yell as the buggy turned in under the
poplars.

"Davy means that for an Indian war-whoop," said Diana. "Mr. Harrison's
hired boy taught it to him, and he's been practicing it up to welcome
you with. Mrs. Lynde says it has worn her nerves to a frazzle. He creeps
up behind her, you know, and then lets go. He was determined to have a
bonfire for you, too. He's been piling up branches for a fortnight
and pestering Marilla to be let pour some kerosene oil over it before
setting it on fire. I guess she did, by the smell, though Mrs. Lynde
said up to the last that Davy would blow himself and everybody else up
if he was let."

Anne was out of the buggy by this time, and Davy was rapturously hugging
her knees, while even Dora was clinging to her hand.

"Isn't that a bully bonfire, Anne? Just let me show you how to poke
it--see the sparks? I did it for you, Anne, 'cause I was so glad you
were coming home."

The kitchen door opened and Marilla's spare form darkened against the
inner light. She preferred to meet Anne in the shadows, for she
was horribly afraid that she was going to cry with joy--she, stern,
repressed Marilla, who thought all display of deep emotion unseemly.
Mrs. Lynde was behind her, sonsy, kindly, matronly, as of yore. The love
that Anne had told Phil was waiting for her surrounded her and enfolded
her with its blessing and its sweetness. Nothing, after all, could
compare with old ties, old friends, and old Green Gables! How starry
Anne's eyes were as they sat down to the loaded supper table, how pink
her cheeks, how silver-clear her laughter! And Diana was going to stay
all night, too. How like the dear old times it was! And the rose-bud