sighed Anne—­and was straightway much comforted by the romance in the idea of the world being denuded of romance!

Chapter XL

A Book of Revelation

The Irvings came back to Echo Lodge for the summer, and Anne spent a happy three weeks there in July.  Miss Lavendar had not changed; Charlotta the Fourth was a very grown-up young lady now, but still adored Anne sincerely.

“When all’s said and done, Miss Shirley, ma’am, I haven’t seen any one in Boston that’s equal to you,” she said frankly.

Paul was almost grown up, too.  He was sixteen, his chestnut curls had given place to close-cropped brown locks, and he was more interested in football than fairies.  But the bond between him and his old teacher still held.  Kindred spirits alone do not change with changing years.

It was a wet, bleak, cruel evening in July when Anne came back to Green Gables.  One of the fierce summer storms which sometimes sweep over the gulf was ravaging the sea.  As Anne came in the first raindrops dashed against the panes.

“Was that Paul who brought you home?” asked Marilla.  “Why didn’t you make him stay all night.  It’s going to be a wild evening.”

“He’ll reach Echo Lodge before the rain gets very heavy, I think.  Anyway, he wanted to go back tonight.  Well, I’ve had a splendid visit, but I’m glad to see you dear folks again.  ‘East, west, hame’s best.’  Davy, have you been growing again lately?”

“I’ve growed a whole inch since you left,” said Davy proudly.  “I’m as tall as Milty Boulter now.  Ain’t I glad.  He’ll have to stop crowing about being bigger.  Say, Anne, did you know that Gilbert Blythe is dying?” Anne stood quite silent and motionless, looking at Davy.  Her face had gone so white that Marilla thought she was going to faint.

“Davy, hold your tongue,” said Mrs. Rachel angrily.  “Anne, don’t look like that—­don’t look like that!  We didn’t mean to tell you so suddenly.”

“Is—­it—­true?” asked Anne in a voice that was not hers.

“Gilbert is very ill,” said Mrs. Lynde gravely.  “He took down with typhoid fever just after you left for Echo Lodge.  Did you never hear of it?”

“No,” said that unknown voice.

“It was a very bad case from the start.  The doctor said he’d been terribly run down.  They’ve a trained nurse and everything’s been done.  Don’t look like that, Anne.  While there’s life there’s hope.”

“Mr. Harrison was here this evening and he said they had no hope of him,” reiterated Davy.

Marilla, looking old and worn and tired, got up and marched Davy grimly out of the kitchen.

“Oh, don’t look so, dear,” said Mrs. Rachel, putting her kind old arms about the pallid girl.  “I haven’t given up hope, indeed I haven’t.  He’s got the Blythe constitution in his favor, that’s what.”