trustees have promised
me that they will fence in the school grounds next year. If they do I'll
have an arbor day and every scholar shall plant a tree; and we'll have a
garden in the corner by the road."

"We've succeeded in almost all our plans so far, except in getting the
old Boulter house removed," said Gilbert, "and I've given THAT up
in despair. Levi won't have it taken down just to vex us. There's a
contrary streak in all the Boulters and it's strongly developed in him."

"Julia Bell wants to send another committee to him, but I think the
better way will just be to leave him severely alone," said Anne sagely.

"And trust to Providence, as Mrs. Lynde says," smiled Gilbert.
"Certainly, no more committees. They only aggravate him. Julia Bell
thinks you can do anything, if you only have a committee to attempt
it. Next spring, Anne, we must start an agitation for nice lawns and
grounds. We'll sow good seed betimes this winter. I've a treatise here
on lawns and lawnmaking and I'm going to prepare a paper on the subject
soon. Well, I suppose our vacation is almost over. School opens Monday.
Has Ruby Gillis got the Carmody school?"

"Yes; Priscilla wrote that she had taken her own home school, so the
Carmody trustees gave it to Ruby. I'm sorry Priscilla is not coming
back, but since she can't I'm glad Ruby has got the school. She will be
home for Saturdays and it will seem like old times, to have her and Jane
and Diana and myself all together again."

Marilla, just home from Mrs. Lynde's, was sitting on the back porch step
when Anne returned to the house.

"Rachel and I have decided to have our cruise to town tomorrow," she
said. "Mr. Lynde is feeling better this week and Rachel wants to go
before he has another sick spell."

"I intend to get up extra early tomorrow morning, for I've ever so much
to do," said Anne virtuously. "For one thing, I'm going to shift the
feathers from my old bedtick to the new one. I ought to have done it
long ago but I've just kept putting it off . . . it's such a detestable
task. It's a very bad habit to put off disagreeable things, and I never
mean to again, or else I can't comfortably tell my pupils not to do it.
That would be inconsistent. Then I want to make a cake for Mr. Harrison
and finish my paper on gardens for the A.V.I.S., and write Stella, and
wash and starch my muslin dress, and make Dora's new apron."

"You won't get half done," said Marilla pessimistically. "I never y