She could not have told why she
did it. Somehow, old Avonlea days and dreams and friendships seemed very
close to her in this attainment of her long-cherished ambitions. She
and Gilbert had once picturedout merrily the day on which they should
be capped and gowned graduates in Arts. The wonderful day had come and
Roy's violets had no place in it. Only her old friend's flowers seemed
to belong to this fruition of old-blossoming hopes which he had once
shared.

For years this day had beckoned and allured to her; but when it came the
one single, keen, abiding memory it left with her was not that of the
breathless moment when the stately president of Redmond gave her cap and
diploma and hailed her B.A.; it was not of the flash in Gilbert's eyes
when he saw her lilies, nor the puzzled pained glance Roy gave her as he
passed her on the platform. It was not of Aline Gardner's condescending
congratulations, or Dorothy's ardent, impulsive good wishes. It was of
one strange, unaccountable pang that spoiled this long-expected day for
her and left in it a certain faint but enduring flavor of bitterness.

The Arts graduates gave a graduation dance that night. When Anne dressed
for it she tossed aside the pearl beads she usually wore and took from
her trunk the small box that had come to Green Gables on Christmas day.
In it was a thread-like gold chain with a tiny pink enamel heart as a
pendant. On the accompanying card was written, "With all good wishes
from your old chum, Gilbert." Anne, laughing over the memory the enamel
heart conjured up the fatal day when Gilbert had called her "Carrots"
and vainly tried to make his peace with a pink candy heart, had written
him a nice little note of thanks. But she had never worn the trinket.
Tonight she fastened it about her white throat with a dreamy smile.

She and Phil walked to Redmond together. Anne walked in silence; Phil
chattered of many things. Suddenly she said,

"I heard today that Gilbert Blythe's engagement to Christine Stuart was
to be announced as soon as Convocation was over. Did you hear anything
of it?"

"No," said Anne.

"I think it's true," said Phil lightly.

Anne did not speak. In the darkness she felt her face burning. She
slipped her hand inside her collar and caught at the gold chain. One
energetic twist and it gave way. Anne thrust the broken trinket into her
pocket. Her hands were trembling and her eyes were smarting.

But she was the gayest of all the gay