An Unwelcome Lover and a Welcome Friend

           ThesecondtermatRedmondspedasquicklyashadthefirst—“actuallywhizzedaway,”Philippasaid.Anneenjoyeditthoroughlyinallitsphases—thestimulatingclassrivalry,themakinganddeepeningofnewandhelpfulfriendships,thegaylittlesocialstunts,thedoingsofthevarioussocietiesofwhichshewasamember,thewideningofhorizonsandinterests.Shestudiedhard,forshehadmadeuphermindtowintheThorburnScholarshipinEnglish.Thisbeingwon,meantthatshecouldcomebacktoRedmondthenextyearwithouttrenchingonMarilla’ssmallsavings—somethingAnnewasdeterminedshewouldnotdo.

           Gilbert,too,wasinfullchaseafterascholarship,butfoundplentyoftimeforfrequentcallsatThirty-eight,St.John’s.HewasAnne’sescortatnearlyallthecollegeaffairs,andsheknewthattheirnameswerecoupledinRedmondgossip.Anneragedoverthisbutwashelpless;shecouldnotcastanoldfriendlikeGilbertaside,especiallywhenhehadgrownsuddenlywiseandwary,asbehoovedhiminthedangerousproximityofmorethanoneRedmondyouthwhowouldgladlyhavetakenhisplacebythesideoftheslender,red-hairedcoed,whosegrayeyeswereasalluringasstarsofevening.AnnewasneverattendedbythecrowdofwillingvictimswhohoveredaroundPhilippa’sconqueringmarchthroughherFreshmanyear;buttherewasalanky,brainyFreshie,ajolly,little,roundSophomore,andatall,learnedJuniorwhoalllikedtocallatThirty-eight,St.John’s,andtalkover‘ologiesand‘isms,aswellaslightersubjects,withAnne,inthebecushionedparlorofthatdomicile.