Anne’s First Proposal

           Theoldyeardidnotslipawayinagreentwilight,withapinky-yellowsunset.Instead,itwentoutwithawild,whiteblusterandblow.Itwasoneofthenightswhenthestorm-windhurtlesoverthefrozenmeadowsandblackhollows,andmoansaroundtheeaveslikealostcreature,anddrivesthesnowsharplyagainsttheshakingpanes.

           “Justthesortofnightpeopleliketocuddledownbetweentheirblanketsandcounttheirmercies,”saidAnnetoJaneAndrews,whohadcomeuptospendtheafternoonandstayallnight.Butwhentheywerecuddledbetweentheirblankets,inAnne’slittleporchroom,itwasnothermerciesofwhichJanewasthinking.

           “Anne,”shesaidverysolemnly,“Iwanttotellyousomething.MayI”

           AnnewasfeelingrathersleepyafterthepartyRubyGillishadgiventhenightbefore.ShewouldmuchratherhavegonetosleepthanlistentoJane’sconfidences,whichshewassurewouldboreher.Shehadnopropheticinklingofwhatwascoming.ProbablyJanewasengaged,too;rumoraverredthatRubyGilliswasengagedtotheSpencervaleschoolteacher,aboutwhomallthegirlsweresaidtobequitewild.

           “I’llsoonbetheonlyfancy-freemaidenofouroldquartet,”thoughtAnne,drowsily.Aloudshesaid,“Ofcourse.”

           “Anne,”saidJane,stillmoresolemnly,“whatdoyouthinkofmybrotherBilly?”

           Annegaspedoverthisunexpectedquestion,andflounderedhelplesslyinherthoughts.Goodness,whatDIDshethinkofBillyAndrews?ShehadneverthoughtANYTHINGabouthim—round-faced,stupid,perpetuallysmiling,good-naturedBillyAndrews.