The White Sands Hotel was all a flurry of elegance and festive decoration for the Christmas Ball. Anne had only seen the grand hotel on the shoreline once before and that was at a distance while traveling past it by horse and cart. To be included as a guest of honor with the family of her best friend Diana made this an occasion that Anne was determined to remember in every detail for the rest of her life.
The snow was falling in light wispy flakes as the Barry family arrived in their winter sled. Diana and Anne were the first permitted out of it by assistance of a valet and a coachman. The main entrance way greeted the girls with the warmth of glowing chandeliers and a bright illuminating fire at the main hearth.
"Anne, Diana, go upstairs and leave your coats in the cloakroom. I will take care of your dance preparations." Mrs. Berry instructed when everyone was inside.
"Diana, what does she mean dance preparations?" Anne asked with concern.
"Oh, Mother has seen to our dance cards. I hope that she doesn't have Ben Mullins on my card. She thinks very highly of him and I think that he is a bore." Diana laughed.
Anne's expression turned from apprehension to wonder. She had not thought much about dancing with any of the boys, or even who Ben Mullins might be. Seeing the beautiful decorations of pine, lace and candles helped to lighten her worries about it much.
After the girls had left their winter garments with a coat check girl, they found their way back downstairs and into the ballroom. It was as beautiful as a fantasy to Anne. The great Christmas tree at the far end stood as tall as the gothic picture window that overlooked the sea. The men were dressed in their most handsome attire of dark suits and shoes. The ladies were very elegant in their fitted fashions. Some were adorned in jewels and pearls that caught the light which drew Anne's attention up to the multilayered chandlers above. A full spectrum of colors reflected in each piece of cut glass around every candle light.
"Diana. Anne." Mrs. Barry gave each a dance card. "Enjoy yourselves tonight."
She encouraged both girls before she left them to join her husband and make acquaintances with their neighbors.
"I am positively certain, this will spoil everyday life forever." Anne thought aloud to her best friend.
"In three years, I'm going to wear my hair like Alice Bell." Diana's eyes were fixed on one of the older girls with a dance partner. "She's only seventeen and I think she looks ridiculous."
Anne searched out the girl that Diana was talking about although her attention was drawn away to the couple dancing beyond Alice Bell. Gilbert Blythe in the company of Josie Pye, of all people to leave a stain on Anne's perfect memory of this night. Seeing them together was strangely unsettling to her. Perhaps it was the way that Gilbert looked so different from his school boy appearance, taller, finely groomed hair and suit. He was like an adult. Josie was just plain Josie as usual. He looked up in time to catch Anne's gaze. She could tell from his look of amazement that the very notion of her attending the ball should come as a surprise. Well, he need not worry about it for Anne was determined to enjoy herself without any further condescending expressions from Mr. Blythe. Anne tried to focus on the other dancers instead.
"My, my, doesn't Gilbert look dashing tonight?" Diana spoke with a coy admiration of their schoolmate. "I hope that he has a turn on my card."
"Gilbert? I hadn't noticed him." Anne said with a secret hope that Diana hadn't observed her already. "I should accidentally misplace my card out in the lobby if his name has any portion of it."
"Oh, he's looking right at you now. It's too bad that you've been so awful to him. He might have asked you to dance. I'll bet that you couldn't..."
"Eh hm, Miss Barry, I believe that it is my honor to have the next dance with you."
"Oh, hello William." Diana checked her card. "Yes, I'm looking forward to it."
The boy, William, offered his arm.
"Wait, Diana, shouldn't we..." Anne tried to reason although Diana was taken away.
The dancers rotated about the floor in time with the music. Gilbert and Josie were not more than a few steps away. He came so close that the intensity of his deep brown eyes fell directly into Anne's perception.
Before the musicians finished their waltz. Anne quickly removed herself from the entrance way to join those conversing at the refreshment tables. She accepted an offer of sweet punch from a hostess and found an unassuming chair against the wall that was open. The occupant of the next chair, was a lady whom Anne had known from church services.
"Oh, hello Anne." The lady greeted.
They watched as the dancers separated and new ones including Diana and her partner took to the floor. Some remained together, as the music started. Josie was talking with Prissy Andrews. Gilbert was no where to be seen.
"Hello, Mrs. Talbot. Merry Christmas." Anne greeted, relieved to have someone to talk to.
"Merry Christmas to you. I was just talking to Mrs. Barry and she has nothing but wonderful things to say about what you did for her little girl. Dr. Spencer said that you saved the poor child's life."
Anne heard Gilbert's name as someone greeted him. He was standing very close by now.
"It's good of them to say so although I must admit that it's from experience that I was able to care for Minnie May. I've seen children in her condition before."
"In the orphanages?"
Anne lowered her head in response. This Christmas celebration was not the place to consider difficult times in her various homes before coming to stay with Matthew and Marilla.
"Well, I must say. You are a credit to the Barry's as well as the Cuthbert's and the whole of Avonlea."
Anne blushed at the compliments and stared into her cup of punch.
"My dear, we didn't come to hide you by the wall." Mr. Talbot had come to claim his wife for a dance.
She accepted leaving her chair next to Anne empty. It was taken up right away by another. Anne could not raise her head for knowing exactly who it was.