Chapter XXXII. The Pass List Is Out

           WiththeendofJunecamethecloseofthetermandthecloseofMissStacy’sruleinAvonleaschool.AnneandDianawalkedhomethateveningfeelingverysoberindeed.RedeyesanddamphandkerchiefsboreconvincingtestimonytothefactthatMissStacy’sfarewellwordsmusthavebeenquiteastouchingasMr.Phillips’shadbeenundersimilarcircumstancesthreeyearsbefore.Dianalookedbackattheschoolhousefromthefootofthesprucehillandsigheddeeply.

           “Itdoesseemasifitwastheendofeverything,doesn’tit?”shesaiddismally.

           “Yououghtn’ttofeelhalfasbadlyasIdo,”saidAnne,huntingvainlyforadryspotonherhandkerchief.“You’llbebackagainnextwinter,butIsupposeI’veleftthedearoldschoolforever—ifIhavegoodluck,thatis.”

           “Itwon’tbeabitthesame.MissStacywon’tbethere,noryounorJanenorRubyprobably.Ishallhavetositallalone,forIcouldn’tbeartohaveanotherdeskmateafteryou.Oh,wehavehadjollytimes,haven’twe,Anne?It’sdreadfultothinkthey’reallover.”

           TwobigtearsrolleddownbyDiana’snose.

           “IfyouwouldstopcryingIcould,”saidAnneimploringly.“JustassoonasIputawaymyhankyIseeyoubrimmingupandthatstartsmeoffagain.AsMrs.Lyndesays,‘Ifyoucan’tbecheerful,beascheerfulasyoucan.’Afterall,IdaresayI’llbebacknextyear.ThisisoneofthetimesIknowI’mnotgoingtopass.They’regettingalarminglyfrequent.”

           “Why,youcameoutsplendidlyintheexamsMissStacygave.”

           “Yes,butthoseexamsdidn’tmakemenervous.