The next day Marilla went to see the doctor. When she came back, she looked very tired and ill.
"What did the doctor say?" asked Anne worriedly.
"He says I mustn't read or write, and I must wear glasses. Then my head won't hurt. But if I'm not very careful, I'll be blind in six months!"
For a minute Anne was silent. Then she said firmly, "Then you must be careful, Marilla."
"Think how terrible it is to be blind! But how lucky you've got a free place at Redmond College! I can't give you any money, you see. All our money's gone, and I can't work now. I think I'll have to sell the farm, and go and live with Rachel Lynde!" and poor Marilla sobbed wildly.
That night Anne sat alone in her bedroom. She thought and thought for some time, and then she smiled. When she went to bed, she knew what she was going to do.
The next day she explained it all to Marilla.
"You can't sell Green Gables. It's our home! Just listen, I've planned everything. I'm not going to Redmond College, it's too far away. I'm going to teach, in one of the village schools near here. Then I can live there during the week and come home at weekends to look after you. Diana's father will use our fields and pay us for them, and so we'll have some money. You see?"
"Oh Anne! I'll be all right if you're here. But you must go to Redmond, if you want to study..."
"Redmond College doesn't matter," laughed Anne. "I'm going to study at home in the evenings. And I'm going to be a really good teacher! That's better than anything!"
Marilla shook her head and tried not to cry. "You're a good girl, Anne. Now we can keep Green Gables!"
① To go and live with Rachel Lynde.
② To work in one of the village schools.
③ To look after Marilla at weekends.
④ To study at home in the evenings.
⑤ To be a good teacher at Redmond College.