It was a long, hot summer that year, and Anne enjoyed it with her whole heart.
When it was over, she went back to school and studied hard for that trrible thing known as "the Entrance". Anne grew so quickly that one day, Marilla was surprised to find that the girl was taller than her. Another difference was that she talked less.
After months of studying, Anne went to town for the exams. When she returned to Green Gables, three weeks passed without the exam results appearing. Anne did not know what to do with herself!
Then, one evening, Anne was sitting at her open window when she saw Diana come running up the hill with a newspaper in her hand.
"Anne, you've passed," she cried,"and you came first- you and Gilbert both."
"Well now, I always said it," said Matthew, looking at the exam result list happily."I knew you could beat them all easily."
The next three weeks were a busy time at Green Gables. Anne was getting ready to go to Queen's, and there were a lot of things to do. Marilla even made Anne a beautiful green dress for special occasions*. As she watched Anne packing her things, she began to cry.
"I wish you could have stayed a lttle girl, Anne. You've grown up now, and you're going away. This makes me a lttle sad."
"Marilla!" Anne sat down next to her."I will always be your lttle Anne, who will love you and Matthew and dear Green Gables every day of her life."
Marilla put her arms around her girl and held her close, wishing that she need never let her go.
The day finally came for Anne to go to town. She and Matthew drove in one fine September morning.
The next day, Anne and the rest of the Avonlea students went to Queen's Academy. Anne decided to try hard to win the Avery scholarship. If she won the scholarship, she would be given money to attend Redmond College. Then, one day she would become a real graduate! Imagine how proud Matthew would be then!
That night, Anne found herself alone in her lttle bedroom. It was a boarding house in town with a hard and cold street, instead of trees outside. She wanted to cry.
—Adapted from Anne of Green Gables
